FC Barcelona’s perfect start to the La Liga season came to an end after they drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid on Saturday evening.
The game got off to a cracking start, with both teams creating chances in the opening 10 minutes.
Saúl stopped Lionel Messi from getting a close range shot away after he linked up with Luis Suárez inside the first minute. At the other end, Marc André ter Stegen had to deny efforts at goal from Antoine Griezmann in the eighth and ninth minute.
In the 21st minute, Saúl opened the scoring with a cracking long-range strike after having been set up by Yannick Carrasco.
Barcelona poured forward in search of an equaliser, but the hosts were resolute on defence — with Stefan Savić making some crucial blocks.
As a result of their dedication at the back, Atlético went into the break 1-0 up.
That lead was so nearly cancelled out in the 57th minute, when Messi clattered the post from a free-kick.
The visitors continued to pile pressure on Atlético and felt they should have had a 61st minute penalty for a Savić handball following a Luis Suárez shot, but none was given.
However, Barcelona were rewarded for their persistence in the 82nd minute, when Sergi Roberto picked out Luis Suárez with an early cross and the Uruguayan headed the ball into the back of the net.
That goal preserved Barcelona’s unbeaten record in La Liga, but they dropped their first points of the season — while Atlético Madrid failed to win for the first time in a league game since moving to the Wanda Metropolitano.
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