Barcelona has passed one of the important obstacles in its campaign to regain the La Liga title, which it lost 3 seasons ago, after it achieved a hard-fought victory over its host Atletico Madrid, at the top of the 16th stage matches of the competition.
Barcelona's balance - who returned to the path of victories after its 1-1 draw in the last stage with its guest Espanyol - rose to 41 points and sits alone on the lead, 3 points ahead of its closest pursuers, its arch-rivals Real Madrid.
On the other hand, Atletico Madrid's balance - which received its fifth loss in the tournament this season, compared to 8 wins and 3 draws - stopped at 27 points in fifth place.
Goal!
Barcelona open the scoring!
Pedri and Gavi combine to find Ousmane Dembélé who smashes the ball into the corner.
No Lewandowski, no problem!
#beINLiga #AtletiBarça pic.twitter.com/JqHrofZSnE
- beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) January 8, 2023
In the absence of Polish star Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona due to suspension, French winger Osman Dembele played a starring role in the match by scoring the guests' only goal in the 22nd minute.
The two teams ended the match with 10 players after Ferran Torres was sent off from Barcelona and Stefan Savic in the second minute of stoppage time for the second half, after a break from wrestling between them on the field.
I want me hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
- K Art R (@ HD24i) January 8, 2023
- Ferran Torres & Savic 🤣 pic.twitter.com/sLDIDMA3Tr
- Meshaal (@Dolgador) January 8, 2023
This match was Barcelona's last experience before its upcoming participation in the Spanish Super Cup hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of Real, Valencia and Real Betis.
Barcelona will play against Real Betis, the King's Cup champion of Spain last season, next Thursday, in the semi-finals at the "King Fahd" stadium in the capital, Riyadh, and will be preceded by the Real League title holders' meeting with Valencia next Wednesday in the same role in the same stadium.