Barça continue unbeaten against Atlético (3-0)

Barça continue unbeaten againts Atlético (3-0)

FC Barcelona extended their unbeaten start to the new season to nine matches as they beat Atlético de Madrid thanks to goals from Deco, Lionel Messi and Xavi in Camp Nou on Sunday.
The build up the encounter focussed on the two sides that were seen as the in-form teams in the top flight as they both went in search of another win. Despite a bright opening by Atlético though, it was Barça that stretched their run of consecutive victories to six matches as they ended up as comfortable winners. Three goals capped a confident display in a game that saw Frank Rijkaard's side dictate the pace of play throughout and never really allowed the visitors to create many clear chances to worry Víctor Valdés.

A decisive mistake

In the opening minutes, Atlético's strategy of trying to deny the Blaugana any time or space in which to play looked to be working as they hastled and harried from the start and looked dangerous going forward. Then, in the 15th minute a mistake by Chrsitian Abbiati undid all their good work and allowed Barça to take the lead. Messi cut back inside Mariano Pernía on the right flank before sending a low pass into the area. Abbiati looked set to comfortably collect, but the Italian spilled the ball and Deco was on hand to tuck home from close range

Ronaldinho and Messi produce the second

Having broken the deadlock, Barça's spirits began to lift and they began to enjoy the game and they added a second goal just five minutes later. Thierry Henry rolled the ball back for Messi who made a sudden surge forward and, after a neat interchange with Ronaldinho, was able to take aim and guide the ball across the keeper and into the far corner of the net. The rhythm of the game was set by the home team and they continued to attack, but the urgency had gone after giving themselves a two-goal cushion and they were able to stroke the ball around. Seven minutes before the break, Ronaldinho was given a golden chance to add a third when Messi's pass along the area was nudged on by Deco, but as the Brazilian met the ball on the left he fired it wide of the near post. Messi then fired a shot straight at Abbiati after receiving the ball on the right of the area thanks to a fine piece of skill from Ronaldinho, who had lifted a pass over the Atlético defence.

A flawless defence

At the start of the second half, the home team almost added a third as Deco forced Abbiati into a save as he drove goalwards, before Gabi Milito was thwarted from close range by Abbiati after Henry's ball had picked out the defender at the bear post. It was not until the 64th minute that Valdés tasted his first action of the period when Maxi Rodríguez's shot looked bound for the top corner only for the Catalan keeper to make a flying save to tip it away. Simão then looked to lob the Catalan keeper from close range, only to see his effort drift wide of the far post. Carles Puyol had an inspiring game at the back as he made several fierce challenges to keep the danger away.

Third strike

There was time for a sudden upturn in pace by the hosts as Deco again tested Abbiati before he set up Messi who saw his effort turned onto the post by the keeper. In the final minute there was some icing added to Barça's cake when Deco and Messi exchanged passes before the Portuguese international slotted the ball down the left for Dos Santos whose first time pass across goal was met by Xavi to put Barça three goals ahead.