By Our Spanish Football Correspondent
MARCUS RASHFORD and Robert Lewandowski were the heroes in Madrid as Barcelona tightened their iron grip on the La Liga title with a gritty 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid.
In a clash that had more sub-plots than a Hollywood thriller, Hansi Flick’s side moved seven points clear at the summit, capitalising on Real Madrid’s slip-up earlier in the day. But they had to do it the hard way after falling behind to a strike from the son of the man who hates losing to Barca most—Diego Simeone.
SIM-PLY NOT ENOUGH
The Riyadh Air Metropolitano was bouncing when Giuliano Simeone silenced the traveling Catalans in the 39th minute. Latching onto a raking long ball from former Barca man Clement Lenglet, the young Simeone clinicaly lashed home to give the hosts a shock lead.
But the joy in the capital lasted less than three minutes. Marcus Rashford, continuing his sensational resurgence under Flick, ghosted into the box to collect a slick pass from Dani Olmo. The England star didn’t blink, slotting the ball under Juan Musso with his “weaker” left foot to restore parity before the halftime oranges.
RED MIST
The game turned on its head deep into first-half stoppage time. Atletico’s Nico Gonzalez, already on a booking, saw red for a cynical challenge on the electric Lamine Yamal. While the home fans screamed for mercy, the referee—upgraded by VAR—sent Gonzalez for an early bath, leaving Simeone’s men to climb a mountain with only ten pairs of boots.
LUCKY LEWY
Barca huffed and puffed against the Atleti “bus” for much of the second half. It looked like the spoils would be shared until the 87th minute when the master poacher Robert Lewandowski proved that sometimes you make your own luck.
After Joao Cancelo forced a desperate save from Musso, the rebound cannoned off Lewandowski’s shoulder and trickled over the line. It wasn’t the prettiest of his career goals, but for the Blaugrana faithful, it was the most beautiful sight in the world.
