Barcelona 1–1 Atlético Madrid (May 2014)

The Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid football match that took place on 17 May 2014 at the Nou Camp 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.

Barcelona v Atlético Madrid
Event2013–14 La Liga (round 38)
Barcelona Atlético Madrid
1 1
Atlético Madrid wins La Liga title
Date17 May 2014
VenueNou Camp, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
RefereeAntonio Mateu Lahoz
Attendance96,973

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.[1] Atlético Madrid earned the point that won them their first league title in 18 years, and their tenth overall.

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[2] and Real were out of the title race after losing 2–0[3]), Atlético could not win the title at home as they only could earn one point after a 1–1 draw.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

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 4th 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 63rd 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. [7]

Match details
Barcelona1–1Atlético Madrid
Sánchez  33' Report Godín  49'
Attendance: 96,379
Referee: Mateu Lahoz
Barcelona
Atlético Madrid
GK13 José Manuel Pinto
DF22 Dani Alves
DF3 Gerard Piqué 5'
DF21 Adriano
DF14 Javier Mascherano 90'
MF4 Cesc Fàbregas 77'
MF16 Sergio Busquets 45+3' 57'
MF8 Andrés Iniesta (c)
FW10 Lionel Messi 45+3'
FW9 Alexis Sánchez
FW7 Pedro Rodríguez 62'
Substitutes:
GK25 Oier Olazábal
MF6 Xavi 77'
FW11 Neymar 62'
DF15 Marc Bartra
MF17 Alex Song 73' 57'
DF18 Jordi Alba
FW20 Cristian Tello
Manager:
Gerardo Martino
GK13 Thibaut Courtois
DF20 Juanfran
DF3 Filipe Luís 69'
DF2 Diego Godín 36'
DF23 Miranda
MF10 Arda Turan 23'
MF5 Tiago 37'
MF6 Koke
MF14 Gabi (c)
FW19 Diego Costa 16'
FW9 David Villa
Substitutes:
GK1 Daniel Aranzubia
MF4 Mario Suárez
FW7 Adrián 16'  72'
FW8 Raúl García 90+2' 23'
DF12 Toby Alderweireld
MF14 Diego Ribas
MF24 José Sosa 72'
Manager:
Diego Simeone

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

Aftermatch
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.[6]
(C) Champion.

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.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10] In extra time, the Atlético players were visibly exhausted and eventually lost 4–1.[11]

References
  1. Michael Yokhin (16 May 2014). "Last day drama in Spain". ESPN. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  2. "Elche vs. Barcelona: Final score 0-0, but Blaugrana alive despite dropped points". SBNation. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  3. "Celta Vigo 2-0 Real Madrid: Charles double ends Ancelotti's men's title hopes". BetNumbers.gr. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  4. "Atletico Madrid 1-1 Malaga". BBC Sport. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  5. "La Liga: Barcelona v Atletico Madrid match preview". The Independent. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  6. "Reglamento General RFEF – Artículo 201. Sistema de puntos. (page 104)" (PDF). RFEF. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  7. "Atlético Madrid celebrate La Liga title after draw at Barcelona". The Guardian. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  8. "Primera Liga report: Real Madrid 3 Espanyol 1". British Sky Broadcasting. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  9. "Premios BBVA a los mejores de mayo" (in Spanish). LFP.es. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  10. "Real finally secure La Decima". ESPN FC. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  11. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27383593
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