Barcelona deliver a trademark performance
Barcelona made a statement in La Liga with their convincing 3-1 victory over their Spanish rivals Atlético Madrid. Barca seems to be back to their best after having their fair share of struggles earlier this campaign. Barcelona also managed to secure convincing victories against tricky opponents Celta and Athletic Bilbao, which has given fans a sense of hope that their trademark football is back.Although their defense is still fragile, the return of Raphinha seems to have boosted their attack significantly. The Blaugrana now look to be favorites to claim their second successive Spanish title against Atlético.
Pedri and Raphinha show why their absences were missed
Facing Atleti was never going to be an easy task, as they like to sit back, defend, and break on the counter once they get possession, which catches defenses out. However, with Pedri back from injury bossing proceedings in midfield and Raphinha back leading the press, Barcelona was back to dominating in the final third. Pedri once again pulled the strings in midfield with his vision, his ability to maneuver through tight spaces, as well as being able to link play. This was something that Barcelona sorely missed against Chelsea in Europe, as they struggled to create and get past Chelsea’s press. Raphinha’s return, on the other hand, brought back the press from the front, which they were lacking in his absence. Overall, Barcelona’s quick combination play, their ability to slice past Atlético’s defense, as well as their ability to dominate the midfield, saw them dominate today.
Los Rojiblancos face a mountain to climb if they are to challenge for La Liga
Atlético’s defeat against Barcelona brought an end to their 13-game unbeaten streak in La Liga and their six-game winning run. Despite taking the lead through Baena in the 19th minute, Atleti went on to lose their grip of the match, leading to them conceding three goals. Atlético was unable to frequently put balls in behind for attackers to get clear-cut chances. This was largely attributed to Barcelona’s ability to maintain and dominate possession in Atleti’s half. Just as it seemed like Atlético were back in the title race, Barcelona delivered a sucker punch, which leaves them a mountain to climb in LaLiga.
