In a more than complicated match for Barcelona, there was only one man who could give the advantage to the 'culés'. Lionel Messi scored a great goal from a free kick for his team's victory over Atletico Madrid, in a match that was life or death to determine the potential champion of La Liga.
It was in the 26th minute of the first half where Lionel Messi made the most of the direct free kick and shot towards the goal. The free kick went in even though Jan Oblak touched the ball with his palm. This goal meant victory for Barcelona, the 24th goal in La Liga and the Argentine's record with 3 free kicks in 3 consecutive matchdays for the past 30 years.
This victory allows Barcelona to go 8 points ahead of Atletico Madrid and La Liga is practically defined with several matchdays remaining. The solidity of Barcelona makes it seem almost impossible for any team to stage a comeback.
Preview
The Camp Nou marks a key day for La Liga, dominated by Barcelona and contested by Atletico Madrid, separated by five points and facing each other in a huge and exciting duel with Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann leading the ambitions of their teams.
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Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid LIVE for La Liga will be broadcast from 10:15 am (Peruvian time) by DirecTV LIVE. An indisputably important clash, more so for the red and whites, the pursuers, than for the blue and reds, the unbeaten leaders, aware that a victory practically seals La Liga, but warned that a defeat reopens a championship that seemed within their reach not long ago when they had an 11-point advantage.
La Liga is back in play, compressed in five points and in two teams full of unquestionable footballers in their starting XI, especially Barcelona, with Ter Stegen, Piqué, Busquets, Iniesta, Coutinho, Suárez and, above all, Lionel Messi. Diego Simeone, the Atletico coach, also has at his disposal a few top-level players, from the imposing Jan Oblak, who has kept a clean sheet in 21 of his 32 matches this season, to his starting attacking duo composed of Diego Costa and Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman is on a formidable streak: seven goals in two matches.