Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid
Camp Nou
September 24, 2011
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona walked into Camp Nou to face Atlético Madrid on Saturday night with hopes of erasing the recent memory of a 2-2 draw with Valencia on the road. Barça did just that. With the aid of a Leo Messi hat trick, the Catalans thoroughly routed the visitors from Madrid in a downpour. Atlético came into Camp Nou with a fairly strong squad, minus the services of Diego Forlán and Serigo Agüero, and hoped to get a point from the champions. But it wouldn’t happen on this night. Saturday night belonged to the crisp chips of Xavi Hernandez and pinpoint precise flicks of Leo Messi’s left boot.
Lionel Messi celebrates in pouring rain after scoring a goal against Atlético Madrid on Saturday night, something that would happen three times. (Getty Images/UEFA.com)
Atlético began the match almost taking a 1-0 lead just four minutes in, but the left post was not kind to Tiago who was left empty handed as a frozen Victor Valdes watched his shot go clanging off the post to his left. From that point on, it was all downhill for Atlético. Five minutes later, Xavi found David Villa streaking along the left flank with a perfect lob behind the line of defenders. Villa controlled the ball on the turf, made a quick 90 degree cut to rid himself of a pesky defender, then slapped the ball under the arms of Courtois and into the far corner. Nine minutes in and Xavi’s brilliance was already showing up, and Villa notched the opening goal once again at Camp Nou.
Disciple of Messi 