Madrid: Ousmane Dembele’s strike despatched Barcelona 3 issues transparent on the most sensible of L. a. Liga with a traumatic 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
Capitalising on champions Actual Madrid’s defeat by way of Villarreal, Barcelona got down to make a observation victory on the Metropolitano.
Shorn of suspended most sensible scorer Robert Lewandowski, Xavi decided on Ansu Fati up entrance in his position, but it surely used to be Dembele who made the variation, completing a slick transfer within the twenty second minute.
Atletico ramped up the force, with the excellent Ronald Araujo clearing off the road from Antoine Griezmann on the loss of life, however Diego Simeone’s facet may no longer in finding an equaliser.
Each groups completed with 10 males after Ferran Torres and Stefan Savic had been despatched off for brawling with every different at the ground as tempers soured.
Defeat manner Atletico languish in 5th, 14 issues in the back of leaders Barcelona.
Teen Fati had an early effort brilliantly blocked by way of the sprawling Jose Gimenez, as Barcelona ruled the hole exchanges.
The trainer opted to play with 4 midfielders as an alternative of his standard 3, beginning with each Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong in addition to kids Pedri and Gavi.
Xavi stated on Saturday Atletico slightly have any gaps of their defence however Pedri exposed one to create the hole purpose.
The midfielder burst ahead within the twenty second minute to capitalise on house in entrance of the field, prior to feeding Gavi, who teed up Dembele to clinically slot house.
Pedri will have doubled the lead moments later when Atletico foolishly proficient him the ball with a deficient pass-back, however he behind schedule his end too lengthy and Nahuel Molina denied him.
Marcos Llorente had Atletico’s first respectable alternative after part an hour when Griezmann scooped a ball delicately over the defence to set him in, however Araujo deflected his effort into the facet netting.
Gimenez headed narrowly huge with Marc-Andre ter Stegen rooted to the spot because the hosts started to combat again keep an eye on.
The German goalkeeper made a excellent save at complete stretch to disclaim the pink-haired Griezmann, who used to be turning into more and more influential towards his former facet.
Griezmann whipped a strike prime over the crossbar as Atletico started the second one part in decided model, pushing Barca deeper and deeper.
Most effective his compatriot Dembele introduced the leaders an outlet at the spoil and he had a pressure deflected into the side-netting.
Xavi introduced on Franck Kessie for De Jong and it helped secure the send, with Barcelona managing some stretches of ownership which pissed off the house lovers and took the edge out of the sport.
Purple playing cards for Torres and Savic reignited the sport in stoppage time and Griezmann may have snatched some degree for his workforce however for Araujo’s the most important clearance at the line.
The victory earns Xavi some respiring room after grievance and fills Barcelona’s sails with wind forward of the upcoming Spanish Tremendous Cup in Saudi Arabia.