Barcelona and Atlético Madrid played to a thrilling 1-1 draw at Camp Nou this afternoon, giving Atlético Madrid their first league title since the 1995-1996 season.
In the early stages of the match, it seemed as though everything was going against Atlético as star striker Diego Costa pulled up lame on run down the flank and had to be substituted in the 16th minute. There were tears in his eyes as Costa sat on the bench with a towel over his head, his raw emotion as to the gravity of the match (and his prospects for being fit for the Champions League final next week) on full display. A few minutes later a chance clash with Cesc Fabregas forced Arda Turan to the bench in the 23rd minute, leaving Atlético manager Diego Simone down to his last substitute with 70 minutes left in the match.
Barcelona went ahead in the 34th minute on an incredible goal from Alexis Sanchez from the right side. Sanchez powered the ball into the top right part of the goal from a rather absurd angle and there simply wasn’t a thing Atlético keeper Thibaut Courtois could do about it. With recently retired captain/tank Carlos Puyol cheering from the stands, the crowd at Camp Nou was going wild as Barcelona was a only a half away from hoisting the title.
Needing only a tie to clinch the league title, Atlético went on the attack in the beginning of the second half. They had looked dangerous all match from set pieces and were finally rewarded in the 49th minute when Diego Godin powered a header past Barcelona keeper José Pinto off a corner kick. More than the skill of Atlético, the equalized was the result of terrible defending by Barcelona on the play, as Godin was completely unmarked in front of goal. We can only imagine what was going through long-time center back Puyol's mind as he watched this unforgivable error put Barça's title hopes in serious doubt.
The goal forced Barcelona to go on the attack in order to clinch its fifth league title in six years. Atlético’s defense withstood relentless pressure from Barça, including a possibly penalty call on Gerard Pique in the 84th minute, and preserved the 1-1 draw and clinched the league title, just as we at The18 predicted.
Critics who had previously criticized Barcelona star Lionel Messi for not showing up in big games this season will get additional fuel for their fire based on Messi’s performance in this match. He did have a goal off a volley waved off for offside in the 64th minute, but otherwise failed to impose his will on the match in his typical fashion. As a result, heading into the summer, Barcelona fans are left to wonder whether Lionel (and his new contract) is still the one they’re looking for...
At the end of the match, as Atlético’s players celebrated on the pitch, in an extremely classy gesture, the fans at Camp Nou stood and applauded the visitors on their triumph. While Barcelona goes into the summer with many questions and players possibly on the move, Atlético must regroup and get ready to play cross-town rivals Real Madrid in next Saturday’s Champions League Final.
