Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona: 5 hits and flops as Luis Suarez and Thomas Lemar shoot down insipid Blaugrana | La Liga 2021-22

Hit: Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid)

Lemar was on fire against Barcelona

Atletico Madrid's biggest threat in the first-half stemmed from Thomas Lemar, a livewire down the right-flank who scored their first goal and assisted the second.

He took a fine first-touch upon receiving the ball inside the box. Lemar then rifled home beyond Ter Stegen into the top right corner to give Rojiblancos the lead in the 23rd minute.

With nobody to challenge him on that side, the Frenchman had a gala time running into those acres of space and laying crosses from there.

In one nice break too, he assisted Suarez after receiving a pass from the right before releasing the Uruguayan, who finished the job.

---

Flop: Oscar Mingueza (Barcelona)

Atletico Madrid repeatedly attacked the space left behind by Mingueza

Oh my my, that was the most disastrous performance from a full-back you're going to see in a while.

Oscar Mingueza, a centre-back by trade, was deployed in an unconventional right-back spot tonight and had a stinker. Wait, that's an understatement - Mingueza was downright awful.

He drifted forward at every opportunity while abandoning his defensive responsibilities, allowing the likes of Thomas Lemar and then Antoine Griezmann to make hay going forward.

No wonder both of Atletico's goals tonight were scored or created from his side of the pitch. The 22-year-old failed to mark his opposite numbers and was very slow in making recovery runs too.

Mingueza, come hell or high water, shouldn't start at right-back ever again. Period.

---

Hit: Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid)

Gimenez was a rock at the back for Atletico

If Atletico were to keep out Barcelona's quality attackers at bay, they needed their centre-backs, especially Jose Gimenez, to bring their A1 game to the fore.

And the Uruguayan didn't disappoint, turning in a defensive masterclass with a stoic performance that kept the likes of Memphis Depay quiet.

He read the game brilliantly, throwing himself into some crucial blocks and interceptions, whilst also sniffing out danger and nipping it in the bud.

Gimenez made a staggering game-high nine clearances, completed three tackles and won all four of his ground duels, a testament to what a reckoning force he was in defense.