In a breathless game at the Vicente Calderón, the two top teams in La Liga came face to face in a clash that didn’t disappoint
We are no closer to knowing who is the best team in La Liga this term after a 0-0 draw between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid this evening, but we do know one thing for sure: for any doubters who still questioned whether the other team from the capital were real contenders, there is now no other answer than ‘yes’ to that question.
There was no need for those in attendance at the stadium to have seats, they were never going to use them (well, maybe just the edge of them) in this game as it ebbed and flowed, and while the score might suggest it was a bore draw, it was anything but.
Diego Simeone’s side gave no space to Barcelona right from the off, and defended from the front. A former azulgrana himself, David Villa knew what to expect, and while he wasn’t as sharp in front of goal as we have come to expect from the record Spanish goalscorer, he certainly got through his fair share of work, leading the line from the front with Diego Costa. The newly-nationalised striker also worked extremely hard and showed some moments of magic, but not enough to get past a dogged Javier Mascherano.
The Argentine was lucky to stay on the pitch during the game when he went in two-footed on Arda Turan midway through the second half, but he ended up getting a knock on the head for his troubles which perhaps kept him out of the referee’s notebook. Turan’s speed, tenacity and aggression was notable tonight, as he was almost certainly the man of the match. He dictated Atléti’s play through the middle of the park, and constantly looked like the man that would create a goal if it were going to come.
Manchester United target Koke also played well, and made it easy to see why he has been grabbing the attention of the biggest European times. On what was Barcelona’s most difficult game of the season so far in a hostile atmosphere, the introduction of Messi and later Neymar was inevitable, even if they weren’t in the starting line ups. They helped Barcelona to go some way into breaking down Madrid’s defence, but rarely tested Thibaut Courtois in the goal. Iniesta was the man who made way for Lionel, but more through necessity than anything else. He is said to have a bruised knee and was kicked up and down the pitch by an extremely physical Atléti side.
It was clear that Simeone had them well coached on how to react to the movement and passing of the side from Catalunya, and their play was reminiscent of the style of their manager in his heyday. They were committed to the challenge, they looked like they would never tire of running, and they were disciplined from start to finish in knowing their roles and executing them to perfection.
The crowd who attended will go home happy, not to mention out of breath, with a sore throat and with no pipas left to chew. While the quality that we know these teams can produce was perhaps lacking tonight, it was replaced by sheer intensity and a desire to win from both sides, neither of whom were happy to settle for a draw right until the final whistle. A point each was the best result for their neighbours Real Madrid, but Atlético made sure that no one will question their credentials from this point on. What remains to be seen is how big an effect a match of that intensity will have on Simeone’s side in the coming weeks, or perhaps towards the end of the season, but what they have done is shown La Liga, and perhaps their opponents in Europe, that they should get comfortable being uncomfortable when they come to the Vicente Calderón.
