Barcelona 1–1 Atlético Madrid (May 2014)

Barcelona v Atlético Madrid
Event2013–14 La Liga (round 38)
Atlético Madrid wins La Liga title
Date17 May 2014
VenueCamp Nou, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
RefereeAntonio Mateu Lahoz
Attendance96,973

The Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid football match that took place on 17 May 2014 at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, was played during the 38th and therefore last round of the 2013–14 La Liga season. Atlético and Barcelona came into the match occupying the top two positions in the league, separated by just three points, and thus both teams could still claim the title.

It was the first time since 1951 and just the third time in league history the La Liga title came down to a head-to-head match on the final weekend of play (the others in 1945–46 and 1950–51 each involved one of the clubs involved in 2014, with Sevilla the other club on both occasions). More importantly, it was also the first time since 1989 that the top flight title came down to a head-to-head match on the final weekend of play.[1][2][3] The result was a 1–1 draw, earning Atlético Madrid the point to win their first league title in 18 years, and their tenth overall.[4]

Background

In the 36th round of La Liga, Atlético lost 0–2 to Levante at Estadi Ciutat de València while Barcelona and Real Madrid only earned one point in their home games against Getafe and Valencia respectively. With two weeks to play, Atlético led the table with a 3-point advantage over Barcelona and one point more over Real Madrid.

After these results, Atlético could have won the league in the 37th and penultimate round if they earned one more point than Barcelona and Real. In this round, Atlético had a home tie against Málaga while Barcelona visited relegation-threatened Elche and Real Madrid played at Balaídos against Celta Vigo.

Despite both Barcelona and Real Madrid failing to win their respective games (Barcelona ended 0–0[5] and Real were out of the title race after losing 2–0[6]), Atlético could not win the title at home as they only could earn one point after a 1–1 draw.[7]

These results meant that the title would be decided in a head-to-head game at Camp Nou between Barcelona and Atlético, with Atlético having the advantage with a 3-point lead.[1] The reverse fixture ended 0–0 meaning Atlético needed to avoid defeat to clinch the title, otherwise Barcelona would successfully defend their La Liga crown due to having the better head-to-head record out of the two sides.[8]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Atlético Madrid 37 28 5 4 76 25 +51 89
2 Barcelona 37 27 5 5 99 32 +67 86
3 Real Madrid 37 26 6 5 101 37 +64 84
Source: BDFutbol
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Fair-play points.[9]

Match

Atlético Madrid forwards Diego Costa and Arda Turan became injured within the first 30 minutes, and were substituted off. Five minutes before half time, Barcelona took the lead into the break thanks to a goal by Alexis Sánchez after receiving a chest-pass from Lionel Messi.

In the 49th minute of the second half however, a header from Diego Godín off a corner kick made the score 1–1. Eight minutes after the goal, Barcelona's Sergio Busquets could not continue playing.

In the 64th minute Messi scored, but Barcelona were denied the lead they needed as the goal was ruled out for offside. Eventually the game ended as a 1–1 draw, which handed the Colchoneros their first league title in 18 years, and their 10th overall. [10]

Match details

Barcelona1–1Atlético Madrid
Sánchez 33' Report Godín 49'
Attendance: 96,379
Referee: Mateu Lahoz
Barcelona
Atlético Madrid
GK 13 Spain José Manuel Pinto
DF 22 Brazil Dani Alves
DF 3 Spain Gerard Piqué Yellow card 5'
DF 21 Brazil Adriano
DF 14 Argentina Javier Mascherano Yellow card 90'
MF 4 Spain Cesc Fàbregas downward-facing red arrow 77'
MF 16 Spain Sergio Busquets Yellow card 45+3' downward-facing red arrow 57'
MF 8 Spain Andrés Iniesta (c)
FW 10 Argentina Lionel Messi Yellow card 45+3'
FW 9 Chile Alexis Sánchez
FW 7 Spain Pedro Rodríguez downward-facing red arrow 62'
Substitutes:
GK 25 Spain Oier Olazábal
MF 6 Spain Xavi upward-facing green arrow 77'
FW 11 Brazil Neymar upward-facing green arrow 62'
DF 15 Spain Marc Bartra
MF 17 Cameroon Alex Song Yellow card 73' upward-facing green arrow 57'
DF 18 Spain Jordi Alba
FW 20 Spain Cristian Tello
Manager:
Argentina Gerardo Martino
GK 13 Belgium Thibaut Courtois
DF 20 Spain Juanfran
DF 3 Brazil Filipe Luís Yellow card 69'
DF 2 Uruguay Diego Godín Yellow card 36'
DF 23 Brazil Miranda
MF 10 Turkey Arda Turan downward-facing red arrow 23'
MF 5 Portugal Tiago Yellow card 37'
MF 6 Spain Koke
MF 14 Spain Gabi (c)
FW 19 Spain Diego Costa downward-facing red arrow 16'
FW 9 Spain David Villa
Substitutes:
GK 1 Spain Daniel Aranzubia
MF 4 Spain Mario Suárez
FW 7 Spain Adrián upward-facing green arrow 16' downward-facing red arrow 72'
FW 8 Spain Raúl García Yellow card 90+2' upward-facing green arrow 23'
DF 12 Belgium Toby Alderweireld
MF 14 Brazil Diego Ribas
MF 24 Argentina José Sosa upward-facing green arrow 72'
Manager:
Argentina Diego Simeone

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

Aftermath

Atlético Madrid celebrated its 10th league title.
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Atlético Madrid (C) 38 28 6 4 77 26 +51 90
2 Barcelona 38 27 6 5 100 33 +67 87
3 Real Madrid 38 27 6 5 104 38 +66 87
Source: BDFutbol
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Fair-play points.[9]
(C) Champions

It was the first time since the 2003–04 La Liga that a club other than Barcelona or Real Madrid won the title. It was also the first time in the 67-year history of the Camp Nou stadium that a visiting team had clinched the title in the stadium.

The draw meant that Barcelona would finish second, regardless of Real Madrid's result against Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol, as Barça would at worst have the better head-to-head record over their Clásico rivals (winning 2–1 at home and 4–3 away). Nonetheless, Real Madrid won 3–1, meaning second place was instead decided on the head-to-head tiebreaker.[11]

Just after the game, Gerardo Martino resigned as Barcelona's manager after one season in charge. The club only won the Supercopa de España, they were eliminated by Atlético Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and lost 2–1 against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey Final. Two days later, Diego Godín was named Player of the Month for May.[12]

After celebrating the league title in Madrid, Atlético played in the Champions League Final seven days later, against their local rivals Real Madrid. Despite a header from Diego Godín in the first half of the game, Sergio Ramos equalised for Real Madrid in the 3rd minute of second half stoppage time.[13] In extra time, the Atlético players were visibly exhausted and eventually lost 4–1.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Michael Yokhin (16 May 2014). "Last day drama in Spain". ESPN. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  2. ^ Milestones, Bleacher Report. "Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to Play for La Liga Title in Historic Final Match". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  3. ^ Keble, Alex (2020-05-05). "The Games That Defined Modern Football: Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal (1989) | Goal.com US". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  4. ^ Heathman, Christopher. "La Liga Title Decider a Fitting End for Both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  5. ^ "Elche vs. Barcelona: Final score 0-0, but Blaugrana alive despite dropped points". SBNation. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Celta Vigo 2-0 Real Madrid: Charles double ends Ancelotti's men's title hopes". BetNumbers.gr. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Atletico Madrid 1-1 Malaga". BBC Sport. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  8. ^ "La Liga: Barcelona v Atletico Madrid match preview". The Independent. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Reglamento General RFEF – Artículo 201. Sistema de puntos. (page 104)" (PDF). RFEF. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Atlético Madrid celebrate La Liga title after draw at Barcelona". The Guardian. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  11. ^ "Primera Liga report: Real Madrid 3 Espanyol 1". British Sky Broadcasting. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Premios BBVA a los mejores de mayo" (in Spanish). LFP.es. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Real finally secure La Decima". ESPN FC. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid". BBC Sport.