Atlético 0 - 6 Barcelona: “a professional humiliation” with highlights

By: Isaiah | May 21st, 2007

Well. What a difference a week can make. All the naysayers who came out of the woodwork after Getafe and Real Betis can return to the aforementioned woodwork and stat. Not that this is a time to crow as Barça remain in second place after Real Madrid concluded another game with a goal in stoppage time (that it was Roberto Carlos is even crazier, I think), but 0-6 at the Vicente Calderon is not just unexpected, if you’d asked me anytime prior to Ronaldinho slotting home number 4, I would have said it was impossible. Barça hadn’t won at Atlético since something like 1834 (read: 2000), hadn’t beaten Atlético anywhere since March of 2004, and hadn’t registered 6 goals a single time this season (the previous best was 5-0 over Levski Sofia in the CL). Highlights are at the bottom.

So what’s to say about a game that was decent enough until Maniche went down injured and Barça took advantage by scoring before his replacement, Maxi Rodriguez, could be subbed on. Interestingly enough, there’s no mention of that whatsoever in either Sport or Soccernet’s match report about Maniche being out during that goal, but, lo and behold, what’s this? It’s Marca saying it was a “scandalous challenge” by Edmilson that injured Maniche and allowed Barça to score. Imagine that: the Madrid press call Maniche putting his foot under Edmilson’s a scandalous challenge.

Of course, Marca is right in saying that the second came after a “surreal excursion” from the 6 yard box by Pichu, allowing Zambrotta the simplest of lobs to make it 0-2. From there it was over, even if it took another Pichu mistake to make it 0-3. There was nothing he could do about Ronaldinho combining with Eto’o to make it 0-4 and it’s hardly likely he would have stopped Messi if he hadn’t come out to try something. Getting lobbed a second time was probably difficult to stomach for him and it was then that the commentator stated the game had become “a professional humiliation.” When Iniesta scored the 6th in the 90th minute (we can score then too, Madrid!…it just doesn’t mean anything.), that statement became, “the humiliation is complete.” With Fernando Torres burying his face in his hands for a moment along with several of his teammates, that statement seemed to ring true.

A few thoughts: Barcelona kept their heads up and attacked even after the game was over early in the second half. From a neutral point of view this may not be a very sporting thing to do, but at this stage in the league it’s hard to say they shouldn’t have as they’re fighting tooth and nail for the title and there are only 3 games left in which to make it all count. Hopefully they’ve killed off not only the ghosts from the Alfonso Perez, but also the away game bogeys that have been “dogging” Barcelona all year. I say that because if you look at the statshot below, you’ll see that Barcelona are actually in 2nd in terms of away points and now, thanks to Sunday, they’re tied with Madrid for first in goals scored, allowed, and (naturally) goal differential. Still, they’re 7W-5D-6L away from home. They’ve never lost at home and only drawn 4 times so it’s nice that 2 of their remaining 3 games are at the Camp Nou.

Madrid’s final games are also 2 at home and one away, but the away game is at Zaragoza’s La Romareda, a much tougher away match than Barcelona visiting relegated ‘Nastic on the final day. Anything can happen and I sure hope it happens to Madrid, rather than to Barcelona. Whatever, more throughout the week. For now, the highlights:

and the individuals:

Messi 39′
Zambrotta 43′
Eto’o 45′
Ronaldinho 58′
Messi 80′
Iniesta 90′