Barcelona took on Atletico Madrid in the first of their three games set to be played in ten days last night, and the result was far harder than one would have expected.
Taking to the field at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, the Catalans were definitely better than the last time they played at the same venue.
However, it was again Atletico Madrid who took the lead early in the game through Giuliano SImeone and Marcus Rashford soon equalised the score for Barcelona.
A red card then saw the hosts go down to ten men, but Barcelona struggled to score a second goal despite having a numerical advantage. In the end, Robert Lewandowski sealed the win with the team’s second goal.
Barça Universal brings you the player ratings from Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona.
Joan Garcia: 7
The goalkeeper did well to deny Antoine Griezmann early in the game but was absolutely no match for Giuliano Simeone’s thunderous strike to hand the hosts the lead.
Did well with his runs out of the box and distribution, even under pressure from the Atletico Madrid forwards.
Joao Cancelo: 8.5
Cancelo was a menace on the left-flank. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Cancelo started explosively at left-back and was all over the attacking third in the initial stretches of the game. However, his attacking output slowly reduced as the game progressed and the hosts began to garner some control.
Improved his attacking output again after the break when the team had a numerical advantage. Virtually created the team’s winner all by himself with some wonderful dribbling.
Gerard Martin: 7
Gerard Martin dished out a decent performance at centre-back with good decision-making and some solid challenges.
Was shown a red card early in the second-half but had it overturned to a yellow by VAR in what came as a massive relief.
Pau Cubarsi: 7
The youngster did a decent job starting as the centre-back and kept Atletico Madrid’s forwards largely in check. His distribution was on point, as was his decision-making under pressure.
Ronald Araujo: 6.5
The Uruguayan international started for Barcelona at right-back and did decently barring some poor long balls. He was taken off late in the first half, however, seemingly as part of a tactical tweak.
Eric Garcia: 7
Garcia started the game as a defensive midfielder but often lay very low and did not step up to provide control in the middle.
He was moved to right-back after the hosts’ opening goal and looked more comfortable in the position with less responsibility and more freedom. Moved back to midfield after Bernal’s injury.
Pedri: 9
Pedri was smooth on the ball and reliable in possession. However, he was overloaded for much of the first half without much support in the pivot.
He looked more comfortable after Marc Bernal came on and Eric Garcia moved to right-back, negating the imbalance Atletico Madrid were looking to exploit in the first-half.
Fermin Lopez: 8
Fermin was the more attacking of the two attacking midfielders on the night and often got on the end of Lamine Yamal’s through balls. His conversion on the night, however, was slightly off.
Should have squared the ball to Rashford for an assured opening goal early in the game but took the chance himself from a complicated angle and squandered it.
Dani Olmo: 8
The Olmo – False 9 experiment yielded mixed results. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
The Spanish midfielder seemingly started as a false-nine although he slowly drifted deeper into the field and failed to do what he was originally fielded for.
Earned the assist for Rashford’s goal but did not do much in an attacking sense otherwise.
Marcus Rashford: 8.5
Rashford’s performance left mixed feelings, and understandably so given how he was in the spotlight replacing Raphinha for the first game after the Brazilian’s latest injury.
He did indeed look promising on the break and did create and score Barcelona’s equaliser alone. However, his attitude off the ball was just not it as he did not look to press, commit, or make much defensive effort.
Lamine Yamal: 9
Yamal was magical once again. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The Spanish phenom was on a different level against Atletico Madrid, creating a threat with every touch and making a real menace of himself on the field.
Yamal was the creative engine behind Barcelona’s attack and should have had two assists and a goal in the first half alone. He was denied by the cross-bar once, but his menace did see the hosts go a man down.
Marc Bernal: 7
Came on and instilled balance to the team briefly towards the end of the first half and the beginning of the second. However, he was forced off with discomfort once more, leaving the field in a concerning development.
Jules Kounde: 7
The Frenchman made his return from injury as he came on as a second-half substitute to replace the injured Bernal. Did well at right-back and looked energetic and fresh after his return.
Robert Lewandowski: 7.5
The Polish striker came on as a late substitute and helped Barcelona score the winner with a smart rebound finish, partially lucky and partially converted brilliantly with his body position.
