In a riveting LaLiga clash, Barcelona secured a hard-fought 1-0 home win against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, with Joao Felix, on loan from Atletico, emerging as the star of the match. The Portuguese forward’s exquisite finish in the 28th minute proved to be the decisive moment, securing a crucial three points for Barcelona in a fiercely contested encounter.
Felix, whose loan to Barcelona followed a contentious split with Diego Simeone’s Atletico, demonstrated his class with a skillful dinked finish over Atletico’s goalkeeper, Jan Oblak. The 28th-minute goal was met with jubilant celebrations, as Felix did not hold back in expressing his joy with the home crowd.
In a post-match interview with Movistar Plus, Felix explained the emotion behind his celebration, saying, “It was spontaneous. I was in the heat of the game, and it was like a relief for everything I’ve been through this summer. Only the people closest to me, my family mainly, know what I’ve been through. So the goal was dedicated to them. I couldn’t believe (when the fans chanted his name). I know how great this club is, and to have your name chanted is not something that happens to many. I’m delighted.”
Barcelona, currently under scrutiny due to recent form, moved above Atletico into third place on the LaLiga table with 34 points, four behind leaders Real Madrid and Girona. Atletico, now in fourth place with 31 points and a game in hand, faced a resilient Barcelona side that dominated the match, particularly in the first half.
Under the leadership of Xavi Hernandez, Barcelona displayed a high-pressing style from the outset, creating numerous chances and showcasing their attacking prowess. The intensity of the match was evident from the early minutes, with both teams pushing for the opener and exposing themselves on counter-attacks.
The breakthrough for Barcelona came in the 28th minute when Pedri stole the ball, initiated a swift counter-attack, and delivered a precise pass to Jules Kounde. Kounde’s cross found Felix, who outmaneuvered the defense and chipped the ball over Oblak into the net.
Despite Barcelona’s dominance, Atletico made three changes at halftime to mount a comeback. Barcelona, however, maintained control, with Raphinha’s strike hitting the post in the 55th minute. Atletico, seizing the opportunity as Barcelona seemed to tire, launched a late bid for an equalizer.
Yet, inspired goalkeeping from Inaki Pena, filling in for the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen, ensured Barcelona held on to the lead. Pena made crucial saves, including two in stoppage time to deny Memphis Depay and Angel Correa, securing the vital three points for Barcelona.
Reflecting on the match, Atletico’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak expressed disappointment, stating, “We threw the first half away, no one seemed to want the ball. It hurts a lot, we didn’t start well, we didn’t shoot in the first half, and it hurts. If we had played a bit better in the first half, we would have had a chance, but we were bad and we were punished.”
