Barcelona started the game on the wrong foot, as Yannick Carrasco gave the defending champions the lead after eight minutes. However, the hosts equalised just two minutes later through Jordi Alba. Teenage sensation Gavi and Ronald Araujo’s first-half goals gave Xavi’s team a 3-1 lead before Dani Alves scored the Blaugrana’s fourth in the 48th minute.
Luis Suarez scored Atletico’s second goal in the 58th minute. Alves was sent off in the 69th minute, but the hosts saw out the victory. Heaping praise on his teammates for their performance against Atletico, Pique said that the Blaugrana are growing and gaining confidence.
Barcelona’s victory over Atletico helped them leapfrog Diego Simeone’s side to move into fourth place in the La Liga table.
The Blaugrana are currently 15 points behind league leaders Real Madrid, but have a game in hand on Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Barcelona’s victory over Atletico Madrid comes after a productive winter transfer window
Barcelona have been in turmoil on and off the pitch recently. They are facing debts up to €1.35 billion. That forced them to part ways with club legend Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann to reduce their wage bill.
The Blaugrana endured a difficult start to their 2021-22 campaign. They parted ways with Ronald Koeman in October, and appointed club legend Xavi Hernandez as their new manager.
The team has lost just one La Liga game since Xavi has taken over. The club were, however, in desperate need of attacking and defensive reinforcements in the January transfer window.
They signed Dani Alves, Ferran Torres, Adama Traore and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. Following the winter reinforcements, they floored the defending champions despite a numerical disadvantage.
It remains to be seen if the Blaugrana can continue their upturn in fortunes till the end of the season.
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