Barca vs Atletico: a unique rivalry

But it is- at least in the last 15 years or so- a riveting study in two different footballing philosophies. Barcelona are the exemplars of tiki-taka fluidity, looking to play an idealized version of the beautiful game. Atletico have become master spoilers under Simeone’s tutelage, using a devilish understanding of the dark arts to mitigate any shortcomings in quality.

Barcelona travel to the Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday for the first of three potentially season-defining clashes with Simeone’s men (all in the space of ten days). Victory in Saturday’s La Liga showdown will go a long way to securing Barca the title. It would also give a huge boost to the Catalan giants ahead of their Champions League quarterfinal clash with Simeone’s men. In that spirit, I have wracked my brain to pick out five quintessential Barca-Atletico clashes. I didn’t want recency bias to interfere and have thus excluded Atletico’s domineering 4-0 Copa del Rey win from earlier this season (they were 4-0 up at halftime).

5. Atletico Madrid 2- Barcelona 0 (Champions League quarterfinal- 2nd leg: 2016)

This was a prime slice of Simeone-ball. Reigning European champs Barcelona were an exhilarating team under Luis Enrique, with the famed MSN combination- Messi, Suarez and Neymar- powering them to the treble in 2015. Atleti went into this quarterfinal as the definite underdogs. In footballing history, has there ever been a side with less respect for the ‘underdogs’ tag? Barcelona came back from behind to win 2-1 in the first leg, with Suarez netting a brace. Atletico were at their phlegmatic best in the 2nd leg, defending like trojans while Antoine Griezmann- a future Barca player- netted his own brace. Atletico held on till the bitter end, sending the champs packing in a fantastic advertisement for Simeone’s stylistics.

4. Barcelona 5- Atletico Madrid 0 (La Liga: 2011)

This was Guardiola-era Barca at its most destructive. Guardiola’s tika-taka style was in full swing in this clash, with footballing GOAT Lio Messi scoring a fabulous hat-trick against an Atleti side in transition (Simeone would take over in three months’ time). David Villa- arguably Spanish football’s greatest ever natural marksman- gave Barca the lead with a glorious strike. The Argentine magician then decided to hold court, drifting past Atleti players with the fleet-footed mischievousness of the Road Runner. He danced past Atleti defenders for goals one and two before completing his hat-trick after some clever interplay with Villa. This was a statement win that embodied both prime Guardiola and prime Messi.

3. Barcelona 1- Atletico Madrid 1 (La Liga: 2014)

You may look at this scoreline and think, huh, that doesn’t sound too exciting. What the scoreline doesn’t show is that this was arguably the biggest night in the history of Atletico Madrid Football Club, with their gritty performance securing a first La Liga title in 18 years and, more importantly, breaking Real and Barca’s vicelike grip on Spanish football. This game was a legit title decider, with Atletico needing to avoid defeat to claim the bragging rights. Things never went so smoothly for the would-be usurpers, as Diego Costa and Arda Turan were both injured inside the opening 30 minutes. Things went from bad to worse as Alexis Sanchez (remember him) gave the Blaugrana a slim 1-0 lead. Simeone gave one of his impassioned halftime team talks and Atletico looked a different beast in the 2nd stanza, with defensive warhorse Diego Godin equalizing just four minutes after the restart. Atletico bullied their way to the finish line, winning the title while Barca manager Tata Martina was sacked a few days later (a brutal business). Atletico went from ecstasy to agony in just seven days’ time, as city rivals Real Madrid beat them in the Champions League final. That’s football.

2. Atletico Madrid 4- Barcelona 3 (Lia Liga: 2009)

Such is Diego Simeone’s influence over everything Atletico Madrid, it’s easy to forget that they were a completely different side prior to this arrival. They played a swashbuckling, devil-may-care brand of football (they were kind of like the Spurs of Spanish football). This 4-3 win over Barcelona typifieid that approach. Barca had the early initiative in this match, going 2-0 up with goals from Messi and Henry (what a delicious combo that is). But Atletico’s swaggering Uruguayan attack would not be subdued, as Suarez and Forlan brought Atleti level. Henry appeared to placate Atleti’s momentum when he made it 3-2. Atletico’s Uruguayan dup would not be denied, with Forlan equalizing from the spot before Suarez smashed one home to secure a dramatic victory. This was undoubtedly one of Atelti’s finest moments at the atmospheric Vicente Calderon (which was essentially Atleti’s Highbury, offering a more combative atmosphere with less commercial opportunities).

1. Barcelona 5- Atletico Madrid 4 (Copa del Rey semifinal- 2nd leg: 1997)

It’s hard to know where to begin with this Copa del Rey classic, which is quite possibly the greatest match in Spanish football history. The first leg of this Copa del Rey tie was entertaining enough, with honours shared 2-2 at the Vicente Calderon. But nobody could have envisaged the insanity of this 2nd leg clash. Atletico shocked the Campo Nou faithful into silence, going into halftime with a 3-0 lead courtesy of a Milinko Pantic hat-trick. Barca went to DEFCON 5 after the break, with R9 Ronaldo scoring twice to pull Barca within touching distance. Pantic then appeared to settle matters once and for all, scoring a 4th goal to make it 4-2 with 25 minutes left. Done and dusted, right? Think again. Luis Figo pulled one back for Barca with an absolute stunner before Ronaldo completed his hat-trick. And then enter stage right: Juan Antonio Pizzi, who fired home from close range to pull off one of the most outrageous comebacks in footballing history. Interestingly, I could only find four instance of men who have scored four goals and been on the losing end of a match. Two of those players, Milinko Pantic and Christian Viera, did it for Atletico Madrid.