Barcelona are third with 34 points (Getty Images)
Joao Felix scored a first-half goal to give Barcelona a hard-fought 1-15 win over Atletico Madrid in a thrilling matchday <> match in La Liga on Sunday.
The Portuguese striker, on loan at Barcelona, scored with a superb touch over Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak after a counter-attack.
The hosts held together in the face of the continued pressure of coach Diego Simeone's team to come out Barcelona victorious.
Barcelona are in third place with 34 points, ahead of Atletico Madrid in the standings, but are 4 points behind the top duo Real Madrid and Girona.
A tactical sentence from Barcelona players ended by Felix in the most beautiful way #La Liga #برشلونه_اتلتيكومدريد #beINLiga #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/NTw6xKF3QL
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 3, 2023
Barcelona dedicates Atletico knot
Atletico Madrid failed again to win at Barcelona, where the last victory in the stronghold of the Catalan team dates back to 17 years, 9 months and 28 days, to freeze his balance at 31 points in fourth place and has a game postponed.
Barcelona were the most possessive side from the start, attacking with the trio of Robert Lewandowski, Rafinha and Joao Felix, to pose a great danger from the start to the Atletico goal.
After the first ten minutes, Atlético began to come out of their areas, and tried to pose a threat to Barcelona goalkeeper Iñaki Pena, who was reinforced by a defense made up of the duo of Andreas Christensen and Ronaldo Araújo.
Lewandowski missed the chance to score a goal in the 12th minute, when he received a cross from Conde from the right side, but the ball passed completely wide of the goal.
Barcelona threaten Blancos 👀 goal #LALIGAEASPORTS | #LALIGAHighlights #AtletiBarça pic.twitter.com/GU1tYiVXDk
— LALIGA (@LaLigaArab) December 3, 2023
In the 28th minute, Barcelona scored the first goal through Joao Felix, who launched the ball from the left side, to come out against Oblak, but Felix put the ball over him in the net.
This is how Joao Felix @joaofelix70 celebrated his❤⚽💙 goal#LALIGAEASPORTS #AtletiBarça @fcbarcelona_ara pic.twitter.com/d5tMd221nb
— LALIGA (@LaLigaArab) December 3, 2023
Atletico defender Mario Hermoso shot a ball into the penalty area, but it passed near the right post of goalkeeper Pena in the 32nd minute.
The second half saw several attempts by Atletico to score the equalizer, but it collided with the organized Barcelona defense.
Besides the Catalans' organised defence, their attack also launched several direct attacks on Oblak's goal, but that posed no real threat to goal throughout the second half.
Lewandowski again missed the chance to score a goal in the match, when he singled out Oblak's goal, but his shot was successfully saved by the Slovenian goalkeeper.
In the fourth minute of injury time of the second half, Barcelona goalkeeper Pena saved his team from a goal, when he saved a powerful shot from Angel Correa from outside the box.
Source: Agencies