Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona: A diplomatic goalless draw

Posted by: neydmin Posted date: January 11, 2014 In: Neymar news | comment : 0

Full-time: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Barcelona
Goals:
Match date: January 11, 2014
Stadium: Vicente Calderón
Competition: La Liga
Barcelona line-up: Valdés, Jordi Alba, Piqué, Mascherano, Daniel Alves, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Alexis Sánchez, Cesc Fàbregas.

Atletico Madrid and Barcelona clashed at the Vicente Calderón this Saturday night, for the third meeting between these two teams since the beginning of the season in last August. Just like it had already happened in the previous two occasions, the two teams nullified each other after 90 very intense minutes played on the pitch and had to settle with splitting points at the end. Real Madrid was the main team benefiting from this outcome, as they now managed to cut the gap to both into a 3-point distance.

Tato Martino knew he was about to face a very solid and tight team in Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone‘s men are like a regiment of soldiers in the field of battle, ready to fight for every loose ball as if it was the last play of their career. Anticipating a high level of aggressiveness throughout the whole game, Martino preferred to preserve his two stars in the beginning, as he left both Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench ahead this match’s kickoff.

As expected, Atletico started the game at full throttle, pressing high up on the field and trying to score what could end up being a vital opener. However, neither Atletico Madrid or Barcelona managed to break the deadlock during the entire game time and at the end, they had no option but to settle with the 0-0 draw. This means Barcelona will remain leading La Liga with the same points as Atletico, but now both teams will have to look behind with more caution since Real Madrid is closing up and chasing them at a 3-point distance.

Sources: fcbarcelona.com / goal.com