Clash of the titans

The game started with at frantic pace and it was Atleti who came out the stronger of the two team forcing the visitors on to the back foot and it wasn’t long before the first chance of the game came along. With just 4 minute on the clock the Turkish wizard Arda Turan darted dangerously in to the penalty area skipping past defenders on his way to the goal line before drilling a cross in which was almost turned in to his own goal by a Barca defender who nodded it out for a corner kick.

The second chance came for the home side only a couple of minutes later when the Spanish-Brazilian hit man tested Valdes with a shot from outside the area. His shot had venom and was directed on target but Valdes got across well to sav3e and deny Costa the opener.

Barcelona began to play their way in to the game with their customary possession football and had a spell where they began to get on top of the home side but the failed to really trouble Courtois in the Athelti goal. The closest they came was from an Iniesa cross from the left which Pedro headed marginally over the bar. Shortly after Pique tried his luck from distance but again with no joy.

Diego Simeone’s side rode the storm and came back fighting and a set of three consecutive corners almost lead to Costa opening the deadlock. Koke delivered the corner in toward the front post where it was flicked on to the back post where the league’s top goal scorer was just inches away from turning it home.

The half ended with Barcelona trying to slow the game down in a bid to take away the momentum that Atletico were creating. This seemed to work and highlighted the tight nature of a first half that ended goalless.

At the interval Tata Martinez replaced Andres Iniesta who had picked up a knock in the first half, bringing on Argentine international Leo Messi who himself is returning from a lengthy lay off. Diego Simeone kept things the same choosing to save his substitutes for latter in the game.

The second half started with more Barcelona possession but Atleti were looking dangerous on the break and from one of those counter attacks they forced a corner kick that almost lead to the opening goal.

Just before the hour mark Atleti sparked back in to life as they got closer and closer to going in front. A quick break saw Simeone’s men with a 3 v 2 as they raced towards the visitors goal. Arda Turan carried the ball through the middle before sliding it out to the left hand side where Diego Costa struck it first time, it looked as though it might creep in at the far post but went agonizingly wide after grazing the upright on its way trough.

After 66 minutes Barca coach Tata Martinez Neymar on for Alexis as they looked to unlock the Atletico Madrid defense. 10 minutes after Simeone made his first change of the night bringing on Raul Garcia for David Villa as Atleti looked to take direct advantage that a corner that had been won after great work by Arda Turan. The corner beat everyone but after it was put back in the ball sat up for the Turkish midfielder who acrobatically shot from around the penalty spot but Valdes held the shot well.

The game began to open up as both team sensed they could steal the three points and with just over ten minutes to go the Belgian keeper was called into action. A fantastic run in to the box from Messi saw him create himself the space to shoot but Courtois pulled of a top draw save to keep things all square.

Simeone was still looking for ways to win the game and made an attacking substitution with 10 minuets to play, bringing on Cristian Rodriguez for Tiago in a move which saw Koke move in to the middle of the park. For all the effort and hard work neither side were able to find the breakthrough and the game ended in an entertaining goalless draw which see’s both sides share the honours at the top of the table.