According to Marca, Barcelona came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at the Estadio Metropolitano, securing the top spot in the league table before the international break.
Flick said last Saturday before the match against Atletico Madrid: "We want to win, and we must win. The goal is to be first in the table before the league pauses." The German coach also added: "It will be a tough match." Last night, Barcelona achieved their first goal and confirmed their assessment of this difficult game at the Estadio Metropolitano. Barcelona enters the international break at the top of the table, but securing these three points was not easy, as they had to come from behind to win.
Barcelona did it. There were concerns that after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Real Madrid in El Clásico domestically, they would falter again against another European powerhouse. But Barcelona did it. They proved that losses to Luis Enrique's team and Mourinho's team were merely anomalies, and their previous big wins against Deportivo Alavés and Aston Villa had already demonstrated this.
However, beating Atletico Madrid was crucial, and this victory has many implications. It not only dispelled external doubts about whether this team could win in big matches but also proved that the team has recovered physically, competitively, and mentally after an unexpected loss two weeks prior. More importantly, this victory allowed Barcelona to achieve their first major goal: to remain at the top of the league table. Both players and coaches wanted to rest as league leaders heading into the international break. Atletico Madrid had threatened this position, but after Barcelona's win this round, Simeone's team has dropped to third. Real Madrid has risen to second, three points behind Barcelona.
Breaking through the iron curtain
The Catalan team continues to be in excellent form in LaLiga. They have played 12 matches, with a record of 11 wins, scoring 48 goals and conceding 13. Their attacking power is extremely fierce. Last night, they also scored twice against one of the league's best defensive teams. Atletico Madrid has conceded only 10 goals in these rounds, the same as Real Madrid. Both teams are among the teams with the fewest goals conceded in the league.
Both of Barcelona's goals came from the same player: Fermín López. The Andalusian midfielder was pleased with the win and staying at the top, but also admitted it was a tough game. "It was a very difficult match. We knew that already, they beat us last year in the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Their goal made the game even more complicated. But we knew how to come back, and I think we played a great game, especially in the second half. After the goal, we completely opened up," said the Spanish international.
The second goal, and Barcelona's winning goal, came from an assist by Yamal. Fermín López and he have excellent chemistry. "Hopefully this connection continues... We know each other very well, and the pass for the second goal was half a goal. We still need to keep getting points," the Barcelona attacking midfielder added happily.
Fermín revealed that he left the jersey he wore in the first half in the locker room because he wanted to keep it, as it was not only the jersey he wore when he scored twice but also when he played his 100th LaLiga match for Barcelona. The one he wore in the second half, he gave to a fan in the stands who was holding a banner for him.