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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Barcelona v Atletico Madrid, La Liga title decider

Rather inevitably, it proved an epic finale to the Spanish league season.

ATLETICO MADRID WERE on the cusp of a first La Liga title in 18 seasons. All they needed was a point at the Camp Nou this evening. Simple, eh?

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. Email sport@thescore.ie, tweet @thescore_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Alexis Sanchez, 34, Godin 48)

After 37 games, the La Liga season all boils down to this.

Atletico Madrid travel to the Camp Nou for the final game of the season knowing that a point will seal their first league title since 1995/96.

For Barcelona, the maths are just as simple: it’s win or bust.

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First things first, let’s get you the teams.

The big piece of news is that Tata Martino has dropped both Xavi and Neymar for what might well be his final game as Barca boss. If you’re gonna go out, you might as well do it on your terms.

Barcelona: Pinto, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Adriano, Sergio, Cesc, Iniesta, Alexis, Pedro, Messi. Subs: Olazabal, Xavi, Neymar, Jordi Alba, Song, Bartra, Tello.

And for Atletico, the good news is that World Cup-bound striker Diego Costa is back after missing last week’s draw against Malaga with a hamstring injury.

Atletico: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Luis, Gabi, Tiago, Koke, Turan, Villa, Costa. Subs: Aranzubia, Suarez, Adrian, Raul Garcia, Alderweireld, Diego, Sosa.

What we wouldn’t give to have one of these…

The Camp Nou holds 98,787 and interestingly, the Atletico fans have only got 447 tickets for today’s game — a measly 0.4%!

For anyone interested, Real Madrid have beaten Espanyol 3-1. Gareth Bale grabbed the opener before Alvaro Morata racked up a brace. The big story concerned Cristiano Ronaldo though…

Teams are in the tunnel…Here we go! Who’s your money?

Of course, that should’ve read ‘who’s your money ON?’

0.00 – KICK-OFF! Great atmosphere inside the Camp Nou. Nice pic via Dermot Corrigan on Twitter.

NouCamp www.twitter.com / dermotcorrigan www.twitter.com / dermotcorrigan / dermotcorrigan

04.00 – BOOKING! Gerard Pique goes in the book early here. Could turn into a problem for Barca. From the resulting free-kick, Miranda arrives at the far post but his header is tame and is wide of the near post.

06. 00 – CHANCE! Adriano picks it up wide left, cuts inside onto his right but his strike is straight at Courtois who easily makes the save.

09.00 – Bright opening by Barca but Atleti hardly troubled yet. Pique’s early card could prove very costly. Worth keeping an eye on that.

- 10.00 – Carles Puyol spotted in the stands. His hair is still looking wonderful, by the way.

11.00 – CLOSE! Atleti swing in a really decent corner, little flick-on at the near post causes problems. Set-pieces could be a problem for Barca today – always been such an issue for them.

13.00 – HUGE NEWS! Diego Costa can’t continue – he floats wide to pick up a pass from Koke and pulls up, clutching his hamstring. He was an injury concern ahead of this but was still selected because of the effect he has on this Atleti side.

16.00 – SUBSTITUTION! Adrian Lopez (on) – Diego Costa (off)

What a blow for the guests. Terrible scenes here, really. Costa didn’t want to leave the field and reluctantly made his way to the bench. He’s disconsolate. He’s wrapped his face in a towel and looks absolutely heart-broken. He looks a MASSIVE doubt for the Champions League final while his World Cup looks under threat too.

24.00 – SUBSTITUTION! Raul Garcia (on) – Arda Turan (off)

This is incredible. And awful to see. Firstly, Costa is forced off with injury. Now, Costa is taken off too. He was hit by Pique earlier and was then accidentally caught by Fabregas a few minutes later. Two HUGE players for Atleti gone and we’re at the midway stage of the opening period.

Costa’s reaction on the bench after being forced off with a hamstring injury.

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A soul-destroyed Arda Turan having to leave the pitch due to injury. Atleti up against it already. Still scoreless though so, as it stands, they’ll be crowned champions.
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28.00 – CHANCE! Best opportunity so far. Dani Alves swings in a superb cross from the right, Pedro rises highest, totally unmarked but it’s a poor header and it sails harmlessly over the bar. Expert delivery from Alves.

33.00 – GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Atletico (Alexis Sanchez)

My word. What a strike. In the right channel, Fabregas clips in a superb ball to Messi. With back-to-goal, he tries to control on his chest but Sanchez reacts to the loose ball and smashes it through the eye of a needle. It fizzes past Courtois at his near post, rising to the roof of the net. Astonishing power on that. Atletico in big trouble now. As it stands, Barca will be crowned champions.

17 of Sanchez’s 19 goals have come at the Camp Nou. Incredible. This is an astonishing hit.
http://vine.co/v/MXVHqI6ZE29

38.00 – BOOKINGS! Atletico are angry and need to be careful. Diego Godin and Tiago take their frustrations out and go in the book. They need to hold out until half-time and re-group. Murphy’s Law for them in the opening period.

44.00 – CHANCE! With Pinto in goal, Atleti will always have a chance. Simeone clearly has identified him as a weak link and their corners have constantly been whipped into the near post, causing Barca problems. This time, the veteran keeper tries to punch away the in-swinger and makes a meal of it. Lucky to get away with only conceding another corner.

HALF-TIME! Barcelona 1-0 Atletico

And dramatic scenes at the whistle. Deep in injury time, Messi kicks the ball away after the whistle goes. Atleti think it’s their free kick and aren’t happy with the Argentine but it’s the end of the half. Going in to protect his pal, Busquets gets involved with some Atleti players and ends up getting booked. It’s all very silly and the teams eventually head to the dressing-rooms.

So, Barcelona will be over the moon. Atleti have lost two of their biggest players and Alexis Sanchez gave them a glorious lead. They’ve created the best chance too – Pedro really should’ve done better from a pinpoint Dani Alves cross.

Atleti’s strategy has been to try and unsettle Barca at set-pieces, clearly identifying Pinto as a weak link. They’ve gone close on a couple of times but you can be sure that Tata Martino will discuss the problem during the break.

It’s exactly the way Barca would’ve wanted it. Atleti are normally very compact and keep their shape exceptionally well. Now, they have to come out and push up.

Barca, with Alves already looking a huge threat, will love that.

As I mentioned earlier, Atleti fans got 447 tickets for today’s game.

They’re certainly standing out from the crowd. Oh, er…

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45.00 – SECOND HALF! Back underway here…

46.00 – OFF THE POST! Wow. Villa turns quickly and shoots on instinct – comes back off the near post.

 

48.00 – GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Atletico (Godin 48)

As I was waiting patiently for a replay of the David Villa chance, Atleti forced a corner. It was floated in and Diego Godin attacked it and sent a bullet header to the bottom corner.

What a response from Atleti. They’ve bossed the second half since it began and thoroughly deserve that.

What was I saying about corners?

When that goal went in, those 477 Atleti fans went berserk. Lots of shirts being taken off and lofted above their heads. As it stands, Atleti will become champions of Spain for the first time since 1996.

Here is that Atleti equaliser. Supreme header.
http://vine.co/v/MXVx07UK0AV

57.00 – SUBSTITUTION! Song (on) – Busquets (off)

A blow for Barca with their enforcer having to go off due to injury. Xavi remains on the bench…

60.00 – INJURY UPDATE! According to Atleti, Costa has a left hamstring problem while Arda Turan has a pelvic injury. Costa not expected to be fir for Champions League final.

18.21 – 57.00 – SUBSTITUTION! Song (on) – Busquets (off)

A blow for Barca with their enforcer having to go off due to injury. Xavi remains on the bench…

18.23 – 60.00 – INJURY UPDATE! According to Atleti, Costa has a left hamstring problem while Arda Turan has a pelvic injury. Costa not expected to be fir for Champions League final.

63.00 – SUBSTITUTION! Neymar (on) - Pedro (off)

Pedro missed a good chance in the first half but hasn’t featured too prominently. The Brazilian has scored against Atleti this season, by the way.

64.00 – DISALLOWED GOAL! Messi really thinks he’s given Barca the lead with a close-range volley…but he’s wrong.

70.00 – BOOKING! Atleti’s Felipe Luis goes in the book and concedes a free-kick in a dangerous position…

71.00 – SUBSTITUTION! Jose Sosa (on) – Adrian Lopez (off)

Adrian, who replaced Diego Costa in the opening period, goes off.

73.00 – BOOKING! Deliberate handball from Song – silly, really and he gets a yellow. The game’s turned scrappy and Atleti seem happy to try and soak up Barca pressure and defend in numbers. Barca haven’t created a decent chance in a while. But plenty of time left.

76.00 – SUBSTITUTION! Xavi (on) – Fabregas (off)

FINALLY! Was just preparing a line on how it was ridiculous that Xavi was still on the bench. Martino finally seeing sense and bringing him in. Not long left though. Can he prove the difference for Barca?

80.00 – VERY CLOSE! Neymar with a shot from distance – pretty central but really well-struck. Courtois does well to tip it over. Great effort.

83.00 – VERY CLOSE! Another corner for Atleti and nearly a second goal. Whipped in low to the near post and Pinto doesn’t know anything about it. He sticks out a leg and makes the block.

84.00 – Pique has now been pushed up front. He’s an inch away from connecting with a cross from the left. Gets a little nudge but takes a dramatic tumble in the area. Referee waves away his claims for a penalty.

87.00 – Minutes ticking away here. Can Atleti hold on and win their first title since 1996? I’m really, really nervous here! Can only imagine what it’s like for those Atleti fans at the Camp Nou.

89.00 – Barca are out of ideas here. Atleti are out on their feet. What an incredible achievement from Atleti here. We’re into injury time.

INJURY TIME! There will be, at least, three minutes of added time. Hold tight, folks.

AND THAT’S IT!!!

ATLETICO ARE 2014 LA LIGA CHAMPIONS!

Incredible scenes here. Hugely respectful from the Barcelona supporters who applaud the new champions of Spain.

Diego Simeone continues his superb run of big-game successes as Atleti manager. It started with that Europa League in 2012, then the brilliant demolition of Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup and the Copa del Rey last season. Not to mind their Champions League run.

But this is something special.

Six times Atleti faced Barcelona this season and they never lost. And what motivation for Diego Simeone and his players for the forthcoming Champions League final against local rivals Real.

What a season its been. What a final day its been.

Everything had gone against Atleti – Diego Costa and Arda Turan were both forced off in the first half due to injury before Alexis Sanchez gave Barca the lead.

But what a magnificent response, what resolve, what grit and determination.

After their Champions League victory over Chelsea, Simeone praised his players’ ‘cojones’. I’m sure he’ll do likewise this evening.

Thanks for staying with us. A busy soccer Saturday but we appreciate you coming on board. Stay tuned for some analysis on where the game was won and lost.

5 talking points ahead of today’s title-deciding Barca-Atletico clash

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