IN SPORT.ES
It gets worse and worse. Barcelona’s night at the Wanda Metropolitano transformed into a nightmare. A terrible goal gifted to Yannick Carrasco and then a bad injury for Gerard Pique leaves the team 10th in La Liga and with one fit centre-back. The only thing that could have been worse for Barcelona tonight was the scoreline.
Pique could be out for months after damaging his knee in a collision with Angel Correa, and he and Marc-Andre ter Stegen combined to allow Yannick Carrasco to score the only goal of the game.
Antoine Griezmann turned an Ousmane Dembele cross over in the early stages as Barca started promisingly, but Atletico turned the tide and took control.
Saul Niguez forced a fine save from Ter Stegen and Marcos Llorente lashed against the crossbar, before Carrasco struck in first half stoppage time.
Pique controlled the ball badly and it span wildly loose, with, Correa feeding Carrasco. Out came Ter Stegen, caught out 40 yards from goal, nutmegged by Carrasco, who then fired home from some way out.
Clement Lenglet had a header saved and Griezmann also missed with a header in the final stages, before he was replaced by the equally ineffective Martin Braithwaite.
Leo Messi span a free-kick wide, looking lost and helpless as Atletico held on to their win to move joint top with Real Sociedad, 10 points clear of Barcelona.