Barcelona

On Friday, Andres Iniesta’s first season in Japan will come to a close following Vissel Kobe’s home match against Vegalta Sendai. Given Kobe’s mid-table standing, it’s certainly been a new experience for the Barcelona legend, but attendance is up 17.4 percent at the club and Iniesta has contributed two goals and three assists in 13 appearances.

Barcelona stayed atop the LaLiga table following a 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid yesterday, but the Blaugrana stars were less than enthused by the approach of Diego Simeone’s men at the Wanda. 

Atlético scored with its only shot on target (a Diego Costa header off a Antoine Griezmann corner), but the home side limited Barcelona to just two shots on frame themselves (a Lionel Messi free kick straight at Jan Oblak and Ousmane Dembélé’s late equalizer). 

Atletico Madrid was close to one of its trademark wins against Barcelona — Diego Costa scored on a set piece and the defense shut the door on the other end.

Then Ousmane Dembélé stepped up with a great equalizer in the 90th minute to cap an intense top-of-the-table 1-1 draw at the Wanda. 

Barcelona came into the match with a one-point lead over Sevilla and Atletico atop the LaLiga table (Real Madrid far back in sixth after losing 3-0 earlier in the day). 

When it comes to transfer rumors and Paris Saint-Germain, you never get further than the superstar front three of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani.