Things are going from bad to worse at FC Barcelona. After suffering a second consecutive defeat in the Champions League against Benfica earlier this week (3-0!), things now also went wrong in the national competition. The top match against reigning champions Atlético Madrid was lost 2-0. Precisely ex-player Luis Suarez played a key role: he first provided an assist and then scored himself. The pressure on coach Ronald Koeman is only increasing.
In the Spanish press they knew it almost for sure: Ronald Koeman’s days as head coach at FC Barcelona are numbered. Until chairman Joan Laporta made a surprising statement on Saturday afternoon: according to him, the position of the Dutchman is not up for discussion, even if there were to be lost to Atlético Madrid.
How much truth there is in those words will become apparent in the days to come. After all, Barcelona could never claim the victory on the field of the national champion. Thomas Lemar, João Felix and Red Devil Yannick Carrasco had come very close to the opening goal early in the game. When Lemar scored the 1-0 halfway through the first half on a pass from Luis Suarez, it came as no surprise.
Shortly after the opening goal, Barcelona finally showed a sign of life. Coutinho just missed, but that was immediately followed up with a big chance from Suarez on the other side. The Uruguayan also missed, but made up for it on the stroke of half-time. This time it was Lemar who gave the assist, Suarez aimed the 2-0 past Ter Stegen from close range.
In the second half, Atlético were able to control the match, Barcelona in turn had very little to do with it. There was no more scoring. Barcelona are now in joint eighth place in the competition with 12 points, but have played one game less than co-leader Atlético Madrid. That counts 17 points, just like Real Madrid – which still plays at Espanyol on Sunday evening.
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