Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona
The script had long been written.
In one corner was the reigning champion: comprising two former Barca men – one of which was discarded by the club last summer, the other recently returned to what is considered his spiritual home.
In the other corner was a failed champion: one struggling to get up off the canvass and seemingly with the SBOTOP La Liga betting odds stacked against it.
Then, hours before kick-off, came the coup de grace.
Ronald Koeman will remain as Barcelona manager and “deserves a margin of confidence”, club president Joan Laporta revealed.
Talk about the dreaded vote of confidence.
Laporta’s intervention was as telling as the likelihood that either Antoine Griezmann or Luis Suarez would deliver a killer blow for Atletico Madrid in the 90 minutes that followed.
And so it proved.
Highlights of the game
While new signing Matheus Cunha was ruled out of the contest with a thigh injury, there were some positives in the home team selection as Koke returned from injury, Joao Felix from suspension and Kieran Trippier was named among the substitutes after picking up a slight knock in midweek.
Barcelona were treated with mixed news on the injury front with Jordi Alba back in contention and on the bench but midfield prodigy Pedri out, along with the likes of new signing Sergio Aguero and Ousmane Dembele.
Amidst the build-up to the game, it was easy to forget that Barca had actually been unbeaten in the league so far this term.
Yet how would they fare against the reigning La Liga champions looking to bounce back from a first defeat of the season – a surprise setback at Alaves seven days ago.
What followed was a first half full of La Liga highlights for Los Rojiblancos.
Thomas Lemar and Felix had already gone close with efforts from the edge of the box before Suarez fed Lemar 23 minutes in and he smashed the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Philippe Coutinho went within a whisker of immediately levelling matters but then, just before half-time, Suarez doubled Atletico’s advantage.
It was another quick break as Felix combined with Lemar who clipped the ball to Suarez and the Uruguayan had time to slot into the bottom corner.
With that the match was over and the predicted morning headlines could be written.
Even in the second half, bar another Coutinho shot which was superbly saved by Jan Oblak, the outcome was not in doubt.
As Suarez departed to a heroes welcome, he was replaced by Griezmann.
Barca’s blushes were further spared in that at least the 71st minute substitute didn’t rub salt in their wounds.
Yet if Suarez can keep on scoring and Griezmann can trigger a resurgence of his first spell in Atletico colours, then optimism abounds for a successful title defence.
This result will go some way to giving them every chance.
Regardless of this result, it was hard to escape the fact that Koeman appears a dead man walking, much of it through no fault of his own – right club wrong time.
He and Laporta have had a strained – bordering on toxic – relationship since Laporta was elected as club president in March and the whole set-up has led to constant and an undeserved lack of respect for Koeman.
As if that dynamic is not bad enough, the former Holland boss has also had to deal with the fallout from Barca legend Lionel Messi’s departure from the Nou Camp and is in charge at a time when the club are in dire financial straits.
In the end it all comes down to a struggle between Koeman’s realism and Laporta’s illusion.
Only one man is to blame but you can guarantee the Dutchman will be the one to be shown the exit door.
It is inevitable.
Key statistics
Atletico have not lost any of their last four meetings with Barcelona in La Liga (won two drawn two).
Koeman has not won any of his three managerial games against Diego Simeone in La Liga (drawn one, lost two).
Suarez has now scored against all 31 opponents he has faced in La Liga (172 goals in total).
Atletico have won just two of their last 12 home matches against Barcelona in La Liga (drawn three, lost seven).
What’s next?
Atletico travel to Granada for their next La Liga assignment on October 16 before hosting Liverpool in the Champions League (October 19).
Barcelona have successive home matches with Valencia due in town on October 17 before the Catalans try and get their European campaign up and running at home to Dynamo Kiev.
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