La Liga: Clever Joao Felix Gives Barcelona 1-0 Win Over Atletico Madrid – News18

Barcelona’s Joao Felix scored within the first half to safe a tough-fought 1-0 house win towards his valiant dad or mum membership Atletico Madrid in a compelling LaLiga conflict on Sunday.

The Portuguese, on mortgage at Barca after a bitter break up with Diego Simeone’s aspect, netted with a tremendous dinked end over goalkeeper Jan Oblak within the twenty eighth minute and didn’t maintain again in his aim-scoring celebrations with the jubilant house crowd.

“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,” Felix advised Movistar Plus.

“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.”

Barca moved above Atletico into third place on 34 factors, 4 behind leaders Real Madrid and Girona.

Atletico are fourth on 31 factors with a recreation in hand.

Under strain from the followers dissatisfied with Barcelona’s kind recently, Xavi Hernandez’s crew placed on a present within the first-half, dominating the match and creating a number of probabilities.

HIGH PRESS

Barca began by urgent excessive and wasted a golden alternative to open the scoring within the second minute when Raphinha was one-on-one towards Oblak however fluffed his strains, hanging extensive of the far publish from shut vary.

Robert Lewandowski had an opportunity blocked by the visiting defence two minutes later and missed a sitter from shut vary within the twelfth minute of a excessive depth match, with either side pushing for the opener and getting uncovered on the counter.

That was how the hosts scored within the twenty eighth minute when Pedri stole the ball and flashed an extended cross to Jules Kounde bursting up the fitting and he crossed to Raphinha who noticed Felix darting up the left channel towards a disorganised defence.

The Brazilian performed in Felix, who received a problem towards final man Jose Maria Gimenez to remain in entrance of Oblak and chipped the ball over the stranded keeper into the empty internet.

Barca stored management with over 65% of possession and will have prolonged their lead earlier than halftime if not for Oblak, who made an excellent one-handed save on the aim-line to maintain out some extent-clean first-time shot by Felix within the forty fourth minute.

Feeling the warmth, Simeone made three modifications at halftime, however Barcelona stayed on high after the break with Raphinha’s strike from lengthy vary hitting the publish within the fifty fifth.

But because the minutes handed Barca appeared to expire of steam because of the relentless tempo of the primary three quarters of the sport and Atletico seized the chance, with recent gamers coming off the bench main a powerful late bid for an equaliser.

However, they have been annoyed by Barca’s impressed keeper Inaki Pena, changing the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen. He made a number of saves to safe Barca the factors, together with two stoppage time ones to disclaim Memphis Depay and Angel Correa.

“We threw the first half away, no one seemed to want the ball,” Oblak advised Movistar Plus. “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.”

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)