Barca produce best performance of Xaviâs reign against Atletico
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STATS Perform/dpa Berlin Barcelona produced arguably the most impressive performance of Xaviâs tenure as the Blaugrana made something of a statement in th...
STATS Perform/dpaBerlin Barcelona produced arguably the most impressive performance of Xaviâs tenure as the Blaugrana made something of a statement in their 4-2 defeat of Atletico Madrid.Diego Simeone brought up Xaviâs past criticism of Atleticoâs style of play in the build-up, though the latter had the last laugh at Camp Nou as Barca replaced Los Colchoneros in fourth.The visitors did enjoy a promising start with Yannick Carrascoâs well-worked opener eight minutes in, but Barca were soon ahead thanks to Jordi Albaâs excellent volley and a Gavi header.Ronald Araujo increased Barcaâs lead just before half-time and Dani Alves blasted in a fourth for his first goal since his return.Luis Suarez pulled one back against his former club and Alves was dismissed, but Barca went on to claim a deserved win.Atletico led in style as Suarez latched onto Kokeâs excellent pass and fed Carrasco into the box, with the Belgian sweeping his first-time finish into the bottom-left corner.They were pegged back just two minutes later when Dani Alves crossed to the left and Jordi Alba met it with a spectacular sliced volley that spun high into the far corner of the net.Another Barca cross proved decisive soon after as the hosts went in front, debutant Adama Traore seeing his pinpoint delivery nodded in by Gavi.Araujo then made it 3-1 late in the half, smashing in from close range after Ferran Torres headed Alvesâ free-kick onto the crossbar.Alves became the fourth-oldest player to score in La Liga this century early in the second half, drilling home from Albaâs cut-back.Barca were made to suffer as Suarez headed in and Alves was sent off for scraping his studs down Carrascoâs calf, but Atletico could not salvage a result.