FC Barcelona missed another chance to move top of LaLiga after playing to a goalless draw with Atletico Madrid in a top-of-the-table clash at Camp Nou on Saturday.
Result: FC Barcelona 0-0 Atletico Madrid
Date: 08 May 2021
Venue: Camp Nou
Atletico made two changes to their side that overcame Eibar in their lasting out, with Koke and Felipe returning. Barcelona made only one change to their side, with Mingueza getting the start in place of Ronald Araujo.
With three minutes gone, Thomas Lemar did well to cut inside from the left onto his less favoured right foot and get the shot away but Marc Andre Ter Stegen made a comfortable save down to his right.
In the ninth minute, Luis Suarez won a free-kick off Gerard Pique on the edge of the box and he dusted himself before lifting an effort over the wall but itf was straight at Ter Stegen.
On the half-hour mark, A quick ball over the top from Frenkie de Jong released Antoine Griezmann in space on the edge of the Atletico box and he let fly on his left foot but the effort was straight at Jan Oblak.
Soon after, Ter Stegen made a brilliant save from a rasping left-footed strike from Yannick Carrasco down to his left.
Shortly before the interval, Messi danced his way magnificently through the Atletico defence, weaving past three challenges in a run from the right flank and he struck an effort that Oblak just managed to tip wide.
Two minutes after the break, Messi delivered a teaser and Clement Lenglet nodded over. Soon after, Messi checked back inside on his right and whipped it to the back post for Pique, who glanced the header wide.
In the 65th minute, Koke brought down Messi on the edge of the Atletico box. Messi stepped up and curled an excellent effort over the wall from the right edge of the box towards the bottom-left corner, but Oblak stretched with his right hand to divert it behind.
Barca had a goal disallowed soon after when Araujo glanced a Jordi Alba cross into the back of the net but the flag was raised for offside.
Ousmane Dembele missed a fantastic opportunity with five minutes to go to snatch all three points. Barca sliced through Atletico down the left as Messi and Griezmann combined to release Alba, who delivered into the box for Dembele, but he headed wide with the goal gaping.
The last chance fell to Messi in the 90th minute when he bent one towards the top left corner but it went inches wide of the target.
And in the end, the sides would have to settle for a share of the spoils as Atletico maintain their two-lead at the top of the table.
