Night of joy. Of peace and happiness. The Christmas spirit has come early in Montjuïc, thanks to the best game of the season. João Félix celebrated, and with him, Barcelona. Arms in a cross and all the protagonism for him after a perfect Vaseline with which he knocked down his former team. He celebrated and shouted the Portuguese’s goal, in case anyone on the visiting bench or in the Metropolitano box had any doubt that he does not want to return to Atlético, that he is happy at Barça. In this team where, when he brings together precision, intensity and dominance, it is difficult not to have fun. Barça believes it. Having overcome Porto and defeated Atletico, they are now looking at Girona.
From the pride and vindication of João Félix, Barcelona reaffirmed itself and remains in the fight in the League. Through bravery and daring, he dominated and established himself in the opposite field, in a new triumph for Xavi over Cholo. And from the clairvoyance and confidence of the De Jong, Gündogan and Pedri triangle the best football of the season is expressed, although the hands of Iñaki Peña were needed in the face of Lewandowski’s lack of aim to close the result.
It gives the impression that Barcelona enjoys playing under pressure, that they only concentrate in critical moments. Xavi’s team likes solemn matches, just as they sleep in fields like the Coliseum or Vallecas. Simeone especially motivates him.
In terms of importance for Barcelona, ??the clash against Atlético had nothing to envy against Porto, which earned a ticket to the Champions League round of 16. For this reason, Xavi chose to repeat the eleven until Iñigo Martínez was injured in the warm-up. Christensen replaced the Basque at the back as the only variation. Except Ter Stegen, with low back pain, was the team of the magical nights of this season that Gavi will no longer be there.
This time there was no time to go out contemplative and the Blaugrana did not wait to go for the game. Nothing about giving an advantage to the rival. Barça was greased in the circulation, mastered the positional game and crushed Atlético near their area, arriving well on the right wing of Koundé and Raphinha. Only the brooch was missing.
Lewandowski won’t be able to say that they fed him or Xavi that we have to look for him further. If Barcelona did not score, it was due to the lack of aim of their nine, who did not hit with his left foot (Hermoso crossed him), nor with his head (he almost cleared instead of finishing) nor with his right, in a spectacular volley. in the air to a great center from Koundé, more lateral than Araújo.
The Barcelona fans were the owners, with rhythm and pressure. And it was João Félix who put the bell on the cat, who obtained the reward for his vindictive spirit. The Portuguese signed a play that Peña started, in which Koundé and Raphinha combined and the Brazilian drew a diagonal to open up the other end’s race. Molina was soft when putting his foot down and João Félix was ready to take the ball. In the area, he scored with his left foot before Oblak came out. A definition of height.
And a celebration in which a lot of anger was released. João Félix, disowned by Atlético, attacked by his former teammates and the one who was his coach, climbed onto the billboard and opened his arms in a cross so that everyone could see who he is, what he is capable of, what they have missed some and how lucky others are to enjoy it.
All eyes were on him and the boy did not disappoint. Nobody had more desire than him, who could only be stopped with fouls. And the Portuguese was about to score the second with his toe but Oblak avoided it when the first half was running out.
It was Cholo’s turn to intervene and he corrected many things with a triple change. Azpilicueta, Lino and Correa came in, which meant a real step forward for the colchoneros, with two more offensive wingers and two pure forwards plus Griezmann as a link. But the excellent version of Barcelona, ??led by Pedri and De Jong, aborted the visitor’s attempted reaction and the one who was close to the goal again was Raphinha, who hit the post.
But the game came with the score tight at the end and that was synonymous with suffering for Barcelona, ??partly because Lewandowski was again wrong in the area when he had done everything well and partly because Sánchez Martínez’s refereeing was off-target, with three fouls for Atlético near the area of ??Iñaki Peña, who emerged to protect the three points. The goalkeeper flew to take a direct free kick from Memphis, another former Barça player, who was going to the same squad. Everyone went to congratulate the quarry goalkeeper and in the stands even Ter Stegen applauded his apprentice, who later frustrated Correa again. The Blaugrana celebrate while João Félix vindicates himself in a team that when playing like this does agree with the Portuguese in that players who do not enjoy this game are not sincere or trustworthy.
Barcelona: Iñaki Peña, Koundé, Araújo, Christensen, Cancelo, Gündogan, Frenkie De Jong, Pedri (Fermin Lopez 89), Raphinha (Ferran Torres 77), João Felix (Lamine Yamal 77) and Lewandowski
Coach: Xavi Hernández
At. Madrid: Oblak, Molina (Lino 46), Giménez (Azpilicueta 46), Witsel, Hermoso, Riquelme (Correa 46), Koke (Saúl 46), De Paul, Llorente, Griezmann and Morata (Memphis 66).
Coach: Diego Pablo Simeone
Field: Olímpic Lluís Companys, 34,568 spectators.
Referee: Sánchez Martínez (Murcian school).
Cards: He cautioned Giménez, Koke, Witsel and Azpilicueta, from Atlético, and João Félix, Ferran Torres, Araújo, Cancelo, Frenkie de Jong and coach Xavi Hernández for Barça.
Goal: 1-0 João Félix (28).
