The first of the triple header against Atletico Madrid, all within the space of 10 days, saw Barca return to the scene of their 4-0 Copa del Rey hammering, and to a stadium where the hosts had won 13 of their 14 league games in 2025/26.
The Spanish Cup victory was, however, only Atleti’s third at home against the Blaugranes in the last seven competitive H2Hs.
With Real Madrid having lost 2-1 against Mallorca earlier in the day, it meant that Barca could go seven points clear at the top of the league
with a win.
Let’s take a look at three talking points from the game…
Time to put some respect on Rashford’s name?
Tireless running, reasonable associative play with his team-mates, a goal created and finished by him… isn’t it time to put some respect on Marcus Rashford’s name?
It’s clear that he will play second fiddle to Raphinha when the Brazilian is fit; however, his power, pace and goal contributions make him a more than able deputy.
Whether Barca makes his stay a more permanent one is a moot point at this stage, but given his numbers to date, he can’t really have done too much more.
If there’s one criticism of him, it’s perhaps the annoying habit of jogging back when losing the ball rather than bullishly trying to win it back. Will that cost him a permanent transfer?
Reliability and versatility from Eric Garcia
Not so long ago, there was a possibility, albeit a distant one, that Eric Garcia might have been sold.
These days, there’s no more reliable and versatile player in the Barca squad than the 25-year-old, and the game against Atleti showed just how vital Eric has become.
Three positional changes in the game and no drop off in quality, despite ever-changing responsibilities and up against a variety of opponents.
His performances may sometimes seem understated, but his importance to Hansi Flick’s style is certainly not in question.
Pedri isolated too often in midfield
Barca generally looks to either Lamine or Pedri to provide the creative spark in the team, and how successful the pair are at doing just that largely depends on how much time and space they’re able to find for themselves.
With Fermin often pushing up to support Dani Olmo, it left Pedri isolated and double-marked, diluting his influence for long periods.
In order for the number eight to have been more effective in the first 45, there had to be an earlier acknowledgement from Fermin and others that the gaps in midfield were far too big.
Marc Bernal’s forced introduction largely corrected the issue, though it really should’ve been addressed well before then.
