FC Barcelona (Barça or Blaugrana) | Special Thread


  • 8'
    Not a flowing tempo to the game thus far as Barcelona are opting for a patient approach in their passing game. King Messi has not been involved a great deal, but that will most certainly change over the next 10 minutes.
  • 6'
    Oblak sends his pass to Filipe Luis out of play which gives the home side a good attacking platform to put Atletico under pressure.
  • 5'
    Carrasco makes a good run down the left after collecting Gameiro's pass. He beats the challenge of Pique, but is forced away from goal and Barcelona flood men back to prevent further penetration from the visitors.
  • 4'
    Sergi Roberto raids down the right and sends a low ball into the feet of King Messi. The Argentine pulls the trigger on a half-volley, but Filipe Luis gets his body in the way and Atletico
 
Reactions: PNC

  • 24'
    King Messi collects a short pass from Sergi Roberto and turns with speed on to his left foot. He strikes with power towards the net, but Gabi gets across well to take all the pace out of the effort, allowing Oblak to gather.
  • 23'
    Suarez makes a nuisance of himself inside the box as he attempts to latch on to a lofted ball from Alba, but Godin and Juanfran scramble the ball away.
  • 22'
    Barcelona thread a series of passes together on the edge of the box, but the wall of black shirts holds firm to force them out wide.
  • 20'
    Better from the home side as they probe away on the edge of the box before Iniesta attempts a special strike from the left flank, but Oblak watches the ball all the way into his hands.
  • 18'
    SHOT! Filipe Luis latches on to the clearance from Mascherano and strikes his effort first time, but he can only send his shot well over the bar. A good passage of play from Atletico.
  • 17'
    CHANCE! Mascherano makes an excellent last-ditch tackle in front of his own goal to prevent Gameiro opening the scoring. Griezmann had gotten in behind the Barcelona defence after linking up with his strike partner and put a low ball across the face of goal, but the Argentine was there to clear.
  • 16'
    SAVE! Atletico produce their best moment of the match as they string together several passes before Griezmann lifts the ball out wide to Carrasco. The Belgian cuts inside on his right foot and strikes with power, but Ter Stegen dives to his left to punch the ball clear.
  • 14'
    CHANCE! King Messi picks up a loose ball on the edge of the box and drops his shoulder to strike at goal. His effort is on target, but Oblak gets across to claim the ball without difficulty. A warning for the visitors nonetheless.
  • 12'
    Space has been hard to come by in the early stages of this game, with both teams pressing each other well in possession. The match needs a spark from someone.
  • 11'
    Barca win a corner and Neymar sends a long ball to the back post for Pique to attack. The defender wins the header, but the referee feels he caught Savic with his arm, resulting in a free-kick for the visitors.
  • 9'
    Alba sends a cross into the box and Rakitic wins a header, only for the ball to land comfortably in the arms of Oblak.
 

  • 36'
    CHANCE! Neymar curls an effort towards the bottom corner from the edge of the box, but he sends his strike inches past the post. Rakitic had done well to win the ball back, but he failed to hit the back of the net, screaming his displeasure.
  • 34'
    PENALTY SHOUT! Barcelona appeal for a penalty as the ball strikes Gabi, but the referee dismisses their claims and allows the visitors to break on the counter.
  • 33'
    BLOCK! Godin comes to his side's rescue as Alba sends a low ball into the box for Suarez's run. The Uruguayan hammers an effort towards the net, but his compatriot makes the vital intervention to prevent it troubling Oblak.
  • 32'
    Pressure from Barca forces Atletico back from a surge down the right. Godin takes possession and tries to pick out Juanfran down the flank, only to send his pass out for a throw-in.
  • 30'
    SHOT! Carrasco turns on the edge of the box and has space for a strike. His effort has power, but not the direction to trouble Ter Stegen, but the visitors continue to edge the better of the opportunities.
  • 28'
    Griezmann weaves his way through three challenges before knocking a ball between Pique and Sergi Roberto for the run of Saul Niguez. The midfielder just loses the footrace with Ter Stegen, but the threat was there from Atletico once again.
  • 26'
    Both teams are still not are their best thus far. They've shared brief moments in the final third, with Atletico boasting the best threats to a goal, but it remains goalless.
 

  • Diego Simeone will be furious with his team to have conceded just before half time. Atletico appeared to have held off the home side's attempts to break the deadlock and were looking fairly dangerous on the counter. However, the goal changes everything for the visitors.
  • Barcelona strike just before the break to hold the lead at half time. They have not been at their best this evening, but Andres Iniesta produced a brilliant cross to carve open the Atletico Madrid defence to allow Ivan Rakitic to head home. Luis Enrique will be satisfied, although he will want to see more from his players.
  • HALF-TIME: BARCELONA 1-0 ATLETICO MADRID
  • 45'
    King Messi scuffs his strike at Barcelona surge into the area before the break, allowing Atletico to escape into half time, trailing by a single goal.
  • 44'
    Griezmann opts not to go for goal as he crosses to the back post, but Savic slips as he attempts to challenge Alba in the air as the ball goes out for a goal-kick.
  • 43'
    Atletico have a decent position to attempt to get an equaliser before the break as Iniesta brings down Griezmann 30 yards from goal.
  • 41'
    Sublime play from Iniesta as he whips in a dangerous cross that is finished from close range by Rakitic.
  • 41'
    GOAL!!!!! Barcelona take the lead through Rakitic. Iniesta carves open the Atletico defence with a pinpoint cross, allowing his team-mate to glance his header past Oblak into the bottom corner.
  • 41'
    CLOSE! Juanfran just backs at Alba in time to prevent his cross from the byline after the left-back had latched on to King Messi's arcing pass over the top.
  • 40'
    King Messi almost weaves his way through the Atletico defence, but Savic just gets a foot in to stop his forward run.
  • 39'
    Gameiro almost runs the length of the pitch on a counter, but just as he is about to release the ball Mascherano gets back at him with a sliding tackle.
  • 38'
    Barcelona are beginning to exert pressure on the visitors as a few holes are beginning to appear in Atletico's backline. It's still going to take a quality effort to beat the imposing figure of Oblak though.
 
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