Match Report: Sunday 05/02/2006 19:00 La Liga, Match Day 22
FC Barcelona – Atletico Madrid

Camp Nou, Barcelona – attendance: 80,000 Culés


0:1 Torres ´33
0:2 Maxi Rodriguez ´47

1:2 Larsson ´65
1.3 Torres ´75


FC Barcelona (4-3-3):

Váldes – Gabri, Oleguer, Puyol, Sylvinho – van Bommel (Ezquerro ´46), Iniesta, Marquez (Gio ´74), Deco, - Messi (Giuly ´46), Larsson
Manager: Frank Rijkaard




Barça's great League run of 14 wins in a row came crashing to an end at the Nou Camp on Sunday night and denied FC Barcelona the chance to equal one of Spanish football's longest-standing records. The Catalan giants needed to beat Atletico to match the achievement of the 1960-61 Real Madrid side which won 15 consecutive Primera Liga matches.


Atlético Madrid’s revival continued as they stunned runaway La Liga leaders Barcelona by winning 3-1. The “Rojiblancos” repeated last season's win at Camp Nou and also completing the double after winning in Madrid earlier in the season.


A counter-attacking Atletico took advantage of many absentees (Ronaldinho, Eto´o, Edmilson, Motta, and Xavi) in the Barça team. Fernando “El Niño” Torres opened the scoring after 33 minutes, before Ex-Espanyol player Maxi Rodriguez doubled the advantage two minutes into the second half. But Barça aren't the league champions and runaway leaders for nothing and the team rolled up their sleeves to try and turn the game around. It looked as if they were on the right track when several good goal-scoring opportunities had been denied by excellent saves of Madrid’s keeper Leo Franco. But finally on 65th minute Henrik Larsson struck back. With only 1-2 down and 25 minutes to go, 14 successive league wins behind them and the crowd roaring them on - surely Barça were going to pull it back!


Barça pushed forward more and more in search of the equaliser, but unfortunately that meant they left even wider spaces at the back. This is always a danger against a counter attacking team like Atletico and proved to be fatal when Fernando Torres scored his second goal of the game to seal a surprise win


My comment: Barça is still in a very comfortable position leading La Liga 9 points clear at the top. Star striker Eto´o returns from the Africa Cup and should be ready for selection for the showdown against Valencia next weekend. If we get a result at Mestalla, the future looks rosy for Barça and we can start to concentrate on the big match in the Champions-League against Chelsea in London.


Força Barça!