Madrid (AFP)
Whistles and a goal: Antoine Griezmann, booed by his former public, and especially Lionel Messi, author of the only goal of the match, allowed Barça to win 1-0 Sunday at Atlético Madrid and recover the first place after the 15th day of La Liga.
Favorite for the Golden Ball Monday, which would be his sixth coronation, Messi, in the lineage of his beautiful month of November, has once again saved the Blaugranas after an intense match, by scoring the goal of victory to the 85th minute, on a nice one-two in pivot with Luis Suarez at the entrance of the surface.
A small goal that means a lot: Leo Messi allowed Barça to take the lead of La Liga in front of Real Madrid, who won 2-1 at Alaves on Saturday, and especially managed to silence the vehement public Wanda- Metropolitano.
The whole stadium was waiting for him and welcomed him with whistles: the French striker Antoine Griezmann, who made Atletico happy for 5 seasons (2014-2019), and who left the capital for Barcelona l Last summer in cold weather with the Madrid club, did not show decisive Sunday but was booed at each of his shots.
The plaque installed in his tribute to the entrance to the stadium was again ransacked and soiled before the kick-off, and the banner deployed at the 60th minute of the match by the ultras of the "Atléti" for his intention did not leave little doubt about their latent bitterness: "You wanted to make a name for yourself but you forgot to be a man".
"It will be a motivating match for him," said coach Ernesto Valverde the day before. It was, and, without shining, the champion of the world remained in his match until the end. His volley shot out of frame (68th), against the kop of the "Frente Atlético", and his coiled shot (47th) were not of caliber to worry Jan Oblak.
Like the Catalan attack rider (Messi-Suarez-Griezmann) throughout the first period: Barça have managed to find the fault on rare occasions against the strong pressure and defensive outflows of colchoneros.
Ivan Rakitic (26th), a nice combination between Griezmann and Suarez at the entrance of the area with a shot by Suarez (35th), and the biggest opportunity, the head of Gérard Piqué , on corner, who touched the crossbar of Jan Oblak (42).
- Ter Stegen and Oblak, imperial -
This poor result is above all the consequence of the two goalkeepers, Jan Oblak and Marc-André ter Stegen, who each signed a big performance on Sunday. And it took a huge ter Stegen to keep the Catalans afloat before the repeated strikes of the Colchoneros, before passing.
First helped by his post on Mario Hermoso's uncrossed cross-court shot by Junior Firpo, the German goalkeeper was imperial on the flat-foot restart of that same Hermoso (19th), and released a monumental reflex stoppage on the head of Alvaro Morata (39th, just before that of Pique on the transverse).
Named for the first edition of the Yachine Trophy, which will reward the best goalkeeper of the year Monday night in Paris at the ceremony of the Golden Ball, ter Stegen scored points Sunday night.
Barça, again tied for first with Real Madrid (31 pts but a win for the Catalans), has just tied five wins in rank, and puts in the best arrangements before the Clasico, scheduled for December 18.
Atlético, despite the nice opposition offered for 85 minutes, is still in the rankings (6th, 25 pts). Since the end of October, the Colchoneros have totaled 3 draws, 3 defeats and one win against Espanyol (3-1).
© 2019 AFP