Barcelona beat Atletico Bilbao 3-1 at San Mamès stadium last night to go second in the league.
The pace was set from kick off, with both teams defending from the front and pressuring well. Atletico's Amorebieta was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Iniesta 34 minutes into the game. Many chances fell to Barça and Atletico but the first half finished without any goals.
Barca did take the lead in the second half a goal from Keita. Xavi then put Barça two up soon after with a little help from a deflection. Villa was then sent off for an off the ball incident. Atletico pulled one back close to full time but it was no use, Busquets sealed the win for the Catalans in injury time.
Barça started and played throughout with great peices of play, perfectly timed balls and a great work ethic.Barça began to cause problems after 9 minutes, Keita came close to putting Barça ahead but didn't catch his shot right and it was easily saved.
Villa, who spends every game lurking, dancing with the offside trap was next to test the keeper. After a nicely weighted pass by Iniesta, Villa struck first time but could only find the post.
Shortly after, Atletico's Amorebieta was sent off for a tackle on Iniesta, deemed to be dangerous by the referee.
10 man atletico nearly surprised the vistors in the second half, when Barça failed to clear a loose ball it fell to San Jose who struck the post.
Barcelona upped the pressure and were ahead on 54 minutes with a goal by Seydou Keita. A great peice of link up play by Xavi and David Villa found Keita who scored his first of the season.
The blaugrana could of scored again when an Alves back heel found Pedro but after having all the hard work done for him, couldn't beat the keeper.
Andres Iniesta then went close in the 64th minute but after finding himself unmarked and in space in the area he could only find the outside of the post.
Xavi, who is not known for his goals or even his attempts on goal, scored with the help of a deflection, after he shot from outside the box to ease the pressure on the champions.
In an act of stupidity, David Villa was red carded for lashing out, this summed up his frustrating game in Basque country.
Gabilondo pulled a goal back for atletico in the closing stages which lead to a nerve racking few minutes for the away side
With Atletico pushing for an equaliser they committed players forward and payed the price when they were caught on the counter attack. Pedro, after beating the offside trap, squared it to Sergio Busquets who finished the game off with a confidently taken finish.
0 comments:
Post a Comment