© EuroFootball.com
On Thursday a match in Barcelona ended at a somewhat unusual time - in the middle of the week - the 16th round of the Spanish championship took place. The last match between the European and Spanish champions "Barcelona" and ambitious Madrid "Atletico" ended in a 1-1 draw.
"Barcelona" 1 - 1 Madrid "Atletico" 41` [1 - 0] Ronaldinho 60` [1 - 1] Sergio Aguero.
In the last match before the two-week break in the Spanish championship, "Barcelona" had a clear territorial advantage on the field (63-37).
The hosts almost broke ahead in the first minute of the match, when Portuguese Deco's shot was successfully parried by Leo Franco. Although "Atletico" responded with a slightly inaccurate shot by Maniches, "Barcelona" looked like the better team at the beginning of the match, but did not capitalize on their opportunities, Xavi and Deco.
Although "Barcelona" goalkeeper Victor Valdes watched the first 25 minutes of the match almost as a spectator, after Antonio Lopez's penalty kick, only he saved the hosts from conceding.
With six minutes left before the break, L. Franco demonstrated all his abilities, blocking Xavi's shot with his leg after Ronaldinho's pass from the side. However, the Argentine goalkeeper could do nothing a minute later, when after Luciano Galletti's foul on Andres Iniesta, a penalty was awarded. Ronaldinho struck it strongly and accurately, thus taking the hosts ahead.
Shortly after, Eidur Gudjohnsen missed the opportunity to double the lead - the Icelander failed to hit the ball passed to him by Ronaldinho from the side.
Atletico coach Javier Aguirre sent former Spanish national team striker Mista onto the field after the break, which brought the expected results. In the 60th minute, a great pass from Peter Luccino "split" the hosts' defense, and the young Sergio Aguero received the ball, withstood Lilian Thuram's pressure, and equalized the score.
A few minutes later, "Atletico" could have taken the lead, but a long-range shot by P. Luccino was parried by V. Valdes. Feeling the pressure, "Barcelona" players responded with several dangerous attacks: E. Gudjohnsen shot inaccurately from afar, and after Deco's lifted corner, Thiago Motta sent the ball over the crossbar with his head.
Unsatisfied with the result, "Barcelona" coach Frank Rijkaard sent veteran Santiago Ezquerro onto the field, who almost brought the hosts back ahead a few minutes later.
Until the end of the game, Fernando Torres and Ronaldinho had one more chance, and although in extra time "Barcelona" aggressively pressed their opponents seeking victory, "Atletico" held on and earned a deserved draw.
After these draws, "Barcelona's" gap behind the leader turned into "Sevilla" decreased to three points, but the Catalans still have a match in reserve against Sevilla's "Betis" who have not demonstrated impressive results.
Meanwhile, the point won by "Atletico" allowed them to rise to fourth place in the standings.
