Robert Lewandowski sniffs out winner in game of false nines between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid

Robert Lewandowski sniffs out winner in game of false nines between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona Barcelona took a major step towards the La Liga title on Saturday night, just about overcoming 10-man Atletico Madrid with a late winner from Robert Lewandowski. A spirited performance from Diego Simeone’s side served only for moral encouragement, with Barcelona taking a seven-point lead home to Catalonia. A heavily rotated Atletico Madrid were without five key players , but on top of that rested Julian Alvarez and David Hancko.

Hansi Flick also experimented, but perhaps not with such a keen eye on Wednesday’s Champions League clash, with Dani Olmo given the false nine role ahead of Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski. After ten minutes of more gentle probing, both sides decided to burst into the large spaces created by an aggressive press. Antoine Griezmann was the first to take advantage, skipping inside both Pau Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo, but his finish was too tame to beat Joan Garcia.

Twice in quick succession, Lamine Yamal used the outside of his foot to bend the ball around the Atletico backline and into Fermin Lopez’s path, with a nutmeg to boot. Both times Lopez was on the stretch though, and couldn’t get a clean strike past Juan Musso. That flurry of chances gave way to a more consistent rhythm after 15 minutes, and a slightly more tempered pursuit of goal, but one that suited Atletico Madrid.

Dani Olmo and Fermin combined to slip Lamine Yamal in on the right side of the box, but his clipped effort hit the outside of the post. Outside of that, Atletico were having their best spell of the game. Long switches to the side of the pitch where Barcelona were short continued to nourish a sharp and mobile attack, with Griezmann and Alex Baena peeling off behind the centre-backs.