Barelona v Atletico
Arguably the most attractive fixture of the weekend is in Spain where leaders Barcelona host Atletico
Madrid who sit second on the table. Atletico look likely to mount a real title challenge and this match will play an important role in how the rest of the season could pan out. What makes this match even more exciting is that both sides’ star men are coming off remarkable performances.
Lionel Messi stole the show once again as he netted twice in Barca’s 2-1 win at Real Betis to break Gerd Muller’s record of 85 goals in a calendar year while Radamel Falcao fired a record breaking five times in Atleico’s 6-0 win over Deportivo.
The Argentine etched his name in football history with his 85th and 86th goals for club and country in 2012, breaking the 40-year-old record of 85 set by Muller in 1972, while he also surpassed Cesar Rodriguez as the all-time highest league goalscorer for Barca with his 192nd La Liga goal. Messi’s brace put Barcelona two goals up after 25 minutes, but it was far from plain sailing for the Catalans, who were given a thorough examination by a spirited home side that pulled a goal back shortly before the break. The attacking pressure from Betis saw them create a number of opportunities in the second-half, hitting the woodwork twice, but Barca managed to ride their luck and grind out the victory, which gives them their 14th win in 15 league games, and restored their six-point lead over Atletico Madrid at the top of the table. It also marked the best start ever to a season by a La Liga club.
Radamel Falcao became the first La Liga player in a decade to score five goals in a match as Atletico Madrid thrashed Deportivo La Coruna 6-0 to keep the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Sunday. It means the Colombian has 16 goals in the league this season, three more than Cristiano but seven off the world’s best player. It was Atletico’s eighth straight home win of the campaign marking a 100% win record at their stadium. Diego Simeone’s men have won their last 13 home games in all competitions stretching back to May, a run that has been key in them maintaining second place in the league behind Barca. For all Atletico’s fine home form they have struggled for the points they have earned on the road. In their 15 matches this season they have won all but three, of which have all come on the road. Out of their seven away matches they have won four, drawn two and lost once, to Real Madrid, scoring only eight goals and conceding seven. However, with 19 wins from their last 23 games in all competitions, it is fair to say Atletico are a force to be reckoned with. In Radamel Falcao they have the world’s most coveted number nine. The feeling in Spain is that this season, Atletico will not tamely succumb to the two giants of Spanish football.
Atletico will need to improve considerably from their previous away performances if they are to come away from this match with points. But with Falcao in red hot form it doesn’t look like a miracle task. Barcelona have won the last four encounters, with Atletico recording their last league win over Barca in 2010 – three seasons ago. Atletico would have learnt a lot in their 2-0 loss Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and that experience will only help them challenge the other Spanish superpower here. The last draw between these sides was in the 2006/07 season and that result is tipped to finally again appear on these sides’ head-to-head record.
