How Barcelona players rated against Atletico Madrid

Barcelona moved eight points clear at the top of La Liga after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou. It was a tough old game with Lionel Messi the difference between the two sides. Barcelona bossed the first half, while Atletico had the better of the second, but there’s now a big gap between the two teams in the table.

Here are player ratings from the crunch clash at Camp Nou…

Players Ratings

Marc-Andre ter Stegen: 6
Strong when it came to collecting aerial balls, didn’t have a save to make.

Sergi Roberto: 7
Dependable as ever at right-back, even up against Filipe Luis and Griezmann when he pulled off to the left.

Gerard Pique: 7
Not Barcelona’s skipper but put in his usual captain’s display, fighting through pain to help keep Atletico at bay.

Samuel Umtiti: 7
After a couple of shaky displays was back to his best, solid and unshakeable against Costa and Griezmann.

Jordi Alba: 6
Only got forward once on the overlap and Coutinho didn’t even use him, choosing to shoot instead. Reliable defensively.

Philippe Coutinho: 7
Started off on the right and then moved over to the left after Iniesta’s injury, where he’s more comfortable. Looked relaxed on the ball and increasingly at ease in the team.

Sergio Busquets: 7
Some vital interceptions and nearly scored a rare goal with a volley that Oblak did well to keep out.

Ivan Rakitic: 8
Alert and sharp, Rakitic won the ball back multiple times and was at his energetic and selfless best. Booked for fouling Correa.

Andres Iniesta: 6
Barcelona’s captain looked good on the ball early on but had to leave with a hamstring injury during the first half.

Lionel Messi: 7
Scored a free-kick in his third match in a row, his effort searing past Oblak into the top corner.

Luis Suarez: 6
Scored but was correctly deemed offside. Usual battling display although it didn’t bear fruit on this occasion on an individual scale.

SUBS

Andre Gomes: 5
Brought on for Iniesta and deployed on the right flank, with Coutinho shifting to the other flank. Sloppy start and was invisible after the break.

Paulinho: –
Only had six minutes as a late substitute for Coutinho.