Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid, La Liga: Match Thread, Live Updates

FULL-TIME, Barcelona 1-2 Atlético: A heartbreaking defeat to end 2024 as Barça dominated the entire game and allowed Atlético to come back and take all three points. Barça lose their third straight game at home in the league, and once again pay the price for missing so many clear chances. This one really hurts.

90+6’ GOAL, Barcelona 1-2 Atlético (Sorloth): Atlético take the lead on the last play of the game as they go on the counter and Nahuel Molina’s cross finds Alexander Sorloth who fires it home and wins it for the visitors.

60’ GOAL, Barcelona 1-1 Atlético (De Paul): Atlético go on the counter and Marc Casadó attempts to clear a cross from Julián Álvarez, but his backheel clearance gives Rodrigo De Paul an easy scoring chance that the midfielder converts.

SECOND HALF KICKOFF! Barcelona 1-0 Atlético: Back underway in Montjuïc! Let’s finish the job, boys!

HALFTIME, Barcelona 1-0 Atlético: Barça played with great intensity, dominated from start to finish and took their biggest chance to earn a deserved lead at the break. Atleti can’t play any worse in the second half, so this one is far from over and there’s still work to do to secure the three points.

30’ GOAL!!!!!! Barcelona 1-0 Atlético (Pedri): BARÇA TAKE THE LEAD!!!! Pedri goes on a brilliant solo run down the left, plays a wonderful one-two with Gavi at the edge of the box, and passes the ball into the bottom corner to put the home team in front! WHAT A GOAL!

21’ PENALTY SHOUT: Barça appeal for a penalty after a cross from Raphinha hits the arm of Giuliano Simeone inside the box, but both the referee and VAR think there’s not enough evidence to point to the spot.

KICKOFF! Barcelona 0-0 Atlético: And we’re underway in Montjuïc!

WELCOME TO THE MONTJUÏC OLYMPIC STADIUM!!! The beautiful temporary home of the world’s greatest football club in the capital of Catalonia is the site of a monster La Liga clash between visitors Atlético Madrid and Barcelona, who come into this one looking to stay top of the table going into the holiday break. But it won’t be easy against a scorching hot Atlético side that has won 11 games in a row in all competitions, and is hungry to beat a struggling Barça team and end 2024 in first place. This should be all kinds of fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!

Note: the comments will be opened only when the team news come out, because our commenter people love commenting and sometimes there are too many comments in the comments section)

LINEUPS

BARCELONA

Starting XI: Peña; Kounde, Cubarsí, Iñigo, Balde; Casadó, Pedri; Raphinha, Gavi, Fermín; Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Szczesny (GK), Astralaga (GK), Araujo, Eric, Domínguez, Martín, De Jong, Torre, Olmo, Fati, Víctor, Ferran

ATLÉTICO MADRID

Starting XI: Oblak; Llorente, Giménez, Lenglet, Galán; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Álvarez (4-4-2)

Substitutes: Musso (GK), Le Normand, Witsel, Azpilicueta, Molina, Reinildo, Koke, Lemar, Lino, Riquelme, Correa, Sorloth

MATCH INFO

Competition/Round: 2024-25 La Liga, Matchday 18

Date/Time: Saturday, December 21, 2024, 9pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 8pm GMT (UK), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 1.30am IST (India, Sunday)

Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Montjuïc, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoechea

VAR: Javier Iglesias Villanueva

HOW TO WATCH

On TV: ESPN Deportes (USA), SuperSport (Nigeria), ITV 4, Premier Sports 1 (UK), Movistar (Spain), others

Online: ESPN+ (USA), ITVX, LaLigaTV (UK), GXR World (India), Movistar+ (Spain), others

Matchday Thread Rules

We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:

Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, watch the swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.

Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!