Barca Blaugranes
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid put together a fantastic football match that ended with a 2-1 victory for the Blaugrana in the last La Liga encounter between these two Spanish giants at the Vicente Calderón. Both teams attacked each other in a match filled with many exciting moments, and Lionel Messi scored a late winner to give the Catalans three gigantic points in the title race.
FIRST HALF
The first half hour of the initial period was fully controlled by the hosts, who pressured the ball high up the pitch, recovered it and forced Ter Stegen into a few big saves. The Blaugrana couldn't control possession in the midfield and were on the back foot for most of the half, creating some chances on the counter but not doing anything dangerous.
But as we approached the end of the half, the visitors took control of the ball, finally, and then began to scare the Colchoneros and Jan Oblak had to make two amazing stops to keep the score at zero.
At halftime, Atlético were the better side but couldn't score, and Barça showed good signs of what was to come in the final period.
SECOND HALF
Luis Suárez and Antoine Griezmann wasted chances they normally wouldn't in the first five minutes of the second half, and it was clear we'd have an action-packed period. The two teams continued to trade shots and fouls, and then the goals came.
First, a total mess in the box with players from both teams scrapping to find the ball eventually ended with Rafinha Alcântara scoring a really nice goal with his right foot. Atlético answered quickly when Diego Godín headed the ball in and tied the game with 20 minutes to go.
Both teams tried to go forward in search of the game-winner, and it was Barça that got it thanks to the world's greatest player: Lionel Messi was at the right place at the right time, and scored a clutch goal in the 86th minute. Three massive points for Barça, and Messi is Messi.
Atlético: Oblak; Vrasljko, Savic, Godín, Luis; Koke, Gabi, Saúl, Carrasco (Torres); Griezmann, Gameiro (Correa)
Goal: Godín (70')
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Piqué, Umtiti, Mathieu (Digne); Roberto (Gomes), Busquets, Iniesta (Rakitic); Messi; Rafinha, Suárez, Neymar
Goals: Rafinha (64'), Messi (86')
