Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi wrap up LaLiga for Barcelona on the night Camp Nou vetoed Antoine Griezmann

Top drawer | Suarez and Messi each produced moments of magic when Barcelona needed them most
REUTERS
Ben Hayward7 April 2019

“Campeones, campeones,” the Barcelona fans sang after the final whistle. It may not be official yet, but quite fittingly, goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi against Atletico Madrid wrapped up LaLiga on Saturday night.

Atletico needed to win this match to have any real chance of claiming the title and coach Diego Simeone said before the game he was optimistic about that possibility, despite never having beaten Barca in the league since his arrival in 2011.

He will have been less optimistic when Diego Costa was sent off inside half an hour, the Spain striker dismissed after hurling abuse at referee Jesus Gil Manzano. What was going to be a yellow card for a foul soon turned to red as the official took objection to the forward’s insult. And at the time, that looked like that.

The fact that Atletico held out until the 85th minute was down to some typically resolute defending, but above all thanks to Jan Oblak. The goalkeeper was a one-man wall, denying Barca with a string of sensational saves.

In the end, though, that wall was broken down. It was always going to take something special and Suarez somehow found an angle, curling a shot past the Slovenian and inside his post from long range and then celebrating wildly in front of the fans.

In Pictures | Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid | 06/04/2019

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It was a special goal on a special night and a minute later, Messi added one of his own, leaving Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez in his wake before beating Oblak with a no-look finish. Two moments of genius that mean the league trophy will be heading back to Camp Nou yet again.

The two South American forwards have won this title for Barca. Messi has hit 33 goals in the competition this term, Suarez 20. Their combined total of 53 is just two fewer than Real Madrid, eight more than Atletico and higher than every other team’s tally in La Liga.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

They ended as the heroes, but down on the bench, coach Ernesto Valverde got it right as well. He sent on Malcom to stretch Atleti’s tired back line, introduced the technical Carles Alena in midfield and added more pace with Nelson Semedo towards the end. All of that helped swing the game in Barca’s favour. Credit where it is due.

The Camp Nou crowd also did its bit. It can often be quiet here, but the fans were up for this one from the outset. From the stirring a cappella rendition of the club’s anthem before kick-off to the support of all their players, including Philippe Coutinho, the supporters played their part to push their team over the line tonight.

And they also made their feelings about Antoine Griezmann crystal clear, whistling the French forward at every opportunity and at one point, telling him in no uncertain terms that he is not wanted at Camp Nou.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

On this evidence, he is not needed either. Brilliant Barcelona are all-but guaranteed now to be champions again for the eighth time in 11 seasons, led from the front by Messi and Suarez. And right now, Atletico and Real Madrid are nowhere near them.

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