The history repeats itself once again: Fernando Torres was the black beast for F.C. Barcelona again and contributed with two goals to the Atletico’s overwhelming victory at the leader's Stadium (1-3). The red-and-white captain didn't miss his habitual appointment with the show at the blue-maroon feud, he gave a lesson of offensive game and he became the nightmare of the rear’s rival by splendid concert of unmarks, speed, anticipation, dribbling and definition.

The strong hug that the captains gave each other before the game contrasted with the duel without a break that both would maintain along the 90 minutes. From the beginning of the match, Atletico looked for the control of the midfield, believing in their possibilities and hiding the ball to a grey Barcelona that didn’t feel comfortable at any moment on the field, and they felt in excess the absence of Etoo and Ronaldinho. Pepe Murcia’s players showed their offensive tactics soon, pressure in the middle of the field and vertical play to take adventage of Petrov’s, Torres’ and Maxi’s speed. The coach's approach worked perfectly and the chances were about to arrive, the first one ended in goal by the red-and-white '9', although the referee invalidated the action cause of a non-existent offside. Atletico tried it again soon after seizing a faulty clearance by Marquez to make a shot that went out brushing Valdes’ right goalpost.

The scoreboard wouldn’t last like that much more, exactly until minute 33: Maxi received inside the area a center from Ibagaza and, in front of the pressure of Oleguer and Gabri, he was able to leave a meek ball that Torres shot to Valdes with a splendid left-handed kick. Atletico didn't remain there, not disagreeing with that minimum difference, continued trusting to their game and maintaining their offensive bet, unhinging more and more a Barça team that came close few times to Leo Franco’s area. The clearest, an action by Messi that ended at the Argentinean goalkeeper hands.

The second half couldn’t start worse for Barcelona in spite of Rijkaard’s offensive bet giving entrance Giuly and Esquerro. Just two minutes later, and with a great fast break, Torres recovered the ball in the middle of the field and he sent it to the left side to Petrov who passed Oleguer easily and he sent a good assist that Maxi sent to the bottom of the net. With 2-0 on the scoreboard the match was very favourable for the red-and-whites, and Pepe Murcia’s players shielded their surrounding area to keep in order the 'cules'. In spite of the good visiting team game, Barça was gaining ground and corning their rival in their area until Larsson was able to reduce differences beating Leo Franco thanks to a pass by Iniesta.

Rijkaard’s players showed faith on the overcome and they pressed in search of the tie, although Atletico was very serious at defence. Pablo and Perea destroyed one and another time the blue-maroon attacks until, just ten minutes later, Fernando Torres got up to one of his old tricks. This chance, the player from Fuenlabrada, entering from the left with speed, received a ball from Maxi, he controlled it inside the area and he put the ball far from Valdés' reach with a subtle shot. The third goal, second in the red-and-white captain's personal account, sentenced definitively a match that was boiling away little by little among a carrousel of changes.

The red-and-white victory at the leader's feud confirms the upward line of the team that, with this victory, sums three straigt victories and consolidates Atletico in the middle zone of the table.


Photo: J. A. Sirvent