Atletico-Barcelona ‘spectacle’ overshadows political backdrop

Players and coaches of both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona hailed the atmosphere at Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday night as the thrills of a 1-1 draw drowned out fears the match would be overshadowed by political tension sweeping across Spain.Barca’s previous match was played behind closed doors as a protest to a violent police crackdown on an independence referendum in Catalonia, deemed illegal by the Spanish government, on October 1. The Catalan giants’ visit to the Spanish capital was marked by a wash of Spanish flags and chants of “Viva Espana” (long live Spain), but fans at the 68,000 capacity were more enthralled by action on the field.Luis Suarez salvaged a point for Barca nine minutes from time to cancel out Saul Niguez’s stunning first-half strike for Atletico. “It was a great game, in a great atmosphere, in a great stadium and we take it as a good point despite the fact we wanted to win,” said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde.“What we like is playing and enjoying ourselves in a spectacular atmosphere like today,” added Barca captain Andres Iniesta, who has called for dialogue between politicians on both sides of the independence debate. “We played very well against a great team and what counts is that football is a spectacle.”Atletico only moved into the Metropolitano last month, but the stadium, which will host next season’s Champions League final, has quickly received rave reviews. “The stadium was marvellous,” said Atletico boss Diego Simeone. “It was a great night of football for everyone with two great teams.”Both Simeone and Valverde also agreed that Lionel Messi was the star of the show once more, despite failing to add to his 17 goals this season for club and country. Messi only arrived back in Barcelona late on Thursday after rescuing Argentina’s floundering World Cup qualifying campaign with a stunning hat-trick in the altitude of Quito, Ecuador on Tuesday to ensure his presence at next year’s showpiece in Russia. “Evidently that journey didn’t tire him out too much,” said a smiling Simeone. “Messi was extraordinary. Every time the ball went through him there was danger.”Messi hit the post and saw a free-kick saved by Jan Oblak with the last kick of the game as Valverde’s men had to settle for a point after opening their league campaign with seven straight wins. “More than for the journey, he was more worn out from the tension accumulated in the games, but Leo always responds and we know the respect he demands from the opposition,” added Valverde. “When he gets the ball there is always the sensation anything can happen.”Real Madrid closed to within five points of Barca with victory at Getafe earlier on Saturday, but Valverde was still content with Barca’s response to going behind. “We go away with a positive feeling. We have to value the point against a great opponent, who went in front, and when Atletico go in front they manage that advantage well.“Their tight defensive lines near their area made it difficult in the first half. In the second, we created chances with more clarity and that push and spirit in the second half got us a point.”Atletico move up to third but remain six points behind the leaders. Barca defender Gerard Pique, an outspoken supporter of Catalonia’s right to self-determination, was loudly jeered every time he touched the ball. However, Antoine Griezmann was also driving Pique to distraction as he nutmegged the Spanish international to bear down on goal only to be denied by a stunning stop from Ter Stegen.The German stopper was helpless on 21 minutes when Saul cut inside onto his supposedly weaker right foot before unleashing a drive into the bottom corner from 20 yards.Barca went onto dominate possession, but had to wait until 10 minutes into the second half to force Oblak into a save when Suarez stung the Slovenian’s palms from outside the box.Seconds later a brilliant Messi sent a curling free-kick off the outside of the post and then fired his best chance of the match uncharacter wastefully wide 19 minutes from time.However, after another outstanding Oblak save to deny Suarez, Barca’s pressure was rewarded when Sergi Roberto picked out an unmarked Suarez at the back post and his downward header had too much power for Oblak. And Suarez should have won the game two minutes from time when he failed to connect with Andre Gomes’s teasing cross.ResultsEibar 0 Deportivo la Coruna 0Girona 1 (Stuani 40) Villarreal 2 (Bakambu 9, 20)Played SaturdayAthletic Bilbao 1 (Vesga 43) Sevilla 0; Getafe 1 (Molina 56) Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 39, Ronaldo 85); Alaves 0 Real Sociedad 2 (Oyarzabal 77, Elustondo 81); Atletico Madrid 1 (Saul Niguez 21) Barcelona 1 (Suarez 81); Espanyol 0 Levante 0