Barcelona showcased a remarkable display of form on Sunday night at the Estadio Metropolitano, triumphing over Atletico Madrid with a resounding 3-0 victory on their home turf.
The impressive triumph, facilitated by goals from Joao Felix, Robert Lewandowski, and Fermin Lopez, propelled Barcelona to the second position in the La Liga standings. Additionally, it extended their unbeaten streak across all competitions to ten matches.
Interestingly, this string of success has coincided with Xavi’s decision to resign from his managerial position at the end of the season. Observers may begin to ponder whether Xavi should reconsider his decision, given the team’s gradual resurgence.
The comprehensive victory on Sunday epitomized Barcelona’s current strengths, showcasing their prowess against a formidable Atletico side.
Unleashing beast mode Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski, renowned for his consistent goal-scoring prowess, has demonstrated his exceptional capabilities as a striker throughout his illustrious career, having achieved the remarkable feat of scoring at least 20 goals in each of his past 13 professional seasons. Despite his formidable reputation, Barcelona managed to contain Lewandowski to a mere two goals over a three-month span from September to December, a noteworthy accomplishment.
In recent weeks, however, Barcelona has successfully revitalized Lewandowski’s goal-scoring form by integrating him more extensively into their build-up play, affording him greater offensive freedom. This strategic adjustment has proven effective, as evidenced by Lewandowski’s influential performance in a recent match, wherein he contributed two assists and scored a remarkable goal of his own, ultimately securing victory for his team.
With Lewandowski exhibiting such impressive form, Barcelona stands poised to advance to the Champions League final, provided he maintains this level of performance.
Ilkay Gundogan’s move into an advanced role
A seasoned veteran showcased a remarkable return to form on Sunday, delivering an outstanding performance since his arrival at Barcelona in the summer.
Deployed in an advanced midfield position, Gundogan displayed exceptional synergy with Lewandowski throughout the entirety of the match, effortlessly maneuvering past Atletico’s midfielders at his discretion. As evidenced by his performances at Manchester City last season, Gundogan stands among the premier attacking midfielders in global football when in top form.
Playing Joao Felix against the club he seemingly hates
33.33% of Joao Felix’s goals in La Liga this season have been scored against his parent club, Atletico Madrid. Although the tally stands at only two goals, it underscores Felix’s evident determination against the capital club. It is noteworthy that despite a recent lack of form, Felix was fielded by Xavi against Atletico once again, indicating a strategic decision on the part of the manager. This decision paid off, as Felix, who had not scored in almost a month prior to Sunday’s game, delivered a performance at the Estadio Metropolitano.