First Division - Day 5

Barcelona 1 - Atlético Madrid 1

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Mascherano, Piqué, Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Busquets (André Gomes 51‘), Iniesta; Messi (Arda Turan 59‘), Luis Suárez, Neymar. 3-4-3.
Atlético: Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godín, Filipe Luis; Saúl Ñíguez (Fernando Torres 60’), Gabi, Koke, Carrasco (Thomas 73‘); Griezmann, Gameiro (Correa 60’). 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 41. Rakitic. Steered angled header down past Oblak from Iniesta cross.
1-1. 61. Correa. Cut past Mascherano and fired low shot in off near post.

Yellow cards: Koke 54’, Griezmann 67’, Thomas 82’, Luis Suárez 84’, Filipe Luis 86’, Jordi Alba 90’.

Barcelona and Atlético Madrid failed to take advantage of a slip by leaders Real Madrid after they cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday evening. As has been the case recently in clashes between these two sides, Atleti’s well disciplined defence allowed their opponents few chances, Oblak only having to save from Messi and Iniesta, and Neymar firing a shot just wide of the post. Carrasco tested Ter Stegen in a rare attack from the visitors, but with five minutes to go to the break Rakitic got on the end of Iniesta’s cross to head the opener. After the interval though Ter Stegen had to keep out an early shot from Griezmann, and Luis Enrique had to make two unprogrammed changes when Busquets and Messi both went off, the former suffering from a bout of flu and the latter with a recurring groin injury. Simeone brought on Correa and Fernando Torres and it had an immediate effect, Correa picking up a quickly taken free kick and taking advantage of a slip by Mascherano to fire home the equalizer. Neymar and Godín brought further saves out of the two keepers later on, and Piqué headed Neymar’s free kick just past the post, but in the end the points were shared, leaving Barça below Sevilla in third place, and their opponents a point below them in fourth.