Atlético Madrid-Barcelona: 2016/17 Liga Iberdrola, as it happened, goals, report
Atlético forward Soni set up the first goal and scored the second with a sublime strike to see off Barcelona and send the home side top of the league.Sporting vs Barcelona
Atlético Madrid moved to the top of the Liga Iberdrola with a 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Calderón, led by the prolific Sonia Bermúdez, who assisted Marta Corredera's opener and scored the second with a splendid strike -- her 16th goal in in 14 league games -- to hand the home side a 2-0 advantage at half time.
Atlético could have extended their lead during their perdiod of ascendancy either side of the break, in which Barça had little answer to the home side's devastating counters, but a combination of the linesman's flag and some last-ditch defending prevented Atleti from putting the game beyond their opponents.
Andressa Alves pulled one back for the visitors with a glancing header beyond the reach of Atleti keeper Lola Gallardo and although Barcelona had their chances to level the game late on, Atleti held on for a deserved victory in front of a healthy home crowd in the side's first match at the Calderón.
Atlético Madrid 2-1 Barcelona: as it happened
Min 46 | And we're back underway!
Atlético Madrid 2-0 Barcelona: half time
There were still fans trying to get in throughout most of the first half, the queues were going around the block our man on the spot says. Poor show from the Calderón organisers not opening enough gates but it seems that the backlog has been cleared for the second half, which is about to get underway...
Min 1 | And we're underway! First against second in the Liga Iberdrola title race and it's Atleti who get the ball rolling.
Atlético Madrid-Barcelona: confirmed line-ups
Atlético Madrid XI: Gallardo, Kenti, León, Pereira, Menayo, Meseguer, Sampedro, Corredera, Soni, Falcón, Esther
11:55 | The players are out on the sun-drenched pitch, the pre-match handshakes underway, the Atleti anthem doing its thing on the loudspeakers, and it's a decent turnout in the stadium as well.
11:50 | Just 10 minute to go until today's top of the table clash from the Calderón.
11:40 | Today's hosts, meanwhile, are out to win their maiden Liga Iberdrola crown, having won their first ever trophy last term by lifting the Copa de la Reina at Barça's expense.
11:39 | After winning four straight league titles, Barcelona were beaten into second by Athletic Club last term, so the Catalans are aiming to regain their crown.
11:32 | As mentioned in our preview below, two points separate Atleti in second from leaders Barça - so both have the chance to end 2016 top of the pile today.
11:24 | Atlético's Sonia 'Soni' Bermúdez, whose career began at Barça, is the league's top scorer with 15 in 13 games, and will be the hosts' main goal threat today.
10:54 | A little over an hour to go until kick-off of a match that sees both sides go into the game unbeaten so far in the Liga Iberdrola. Why not take a look at our match preview below?
10:32 | Ahead of today's mouth-watering encounter, we spoke exclusively to Barcelona's Danish defender Line Roddik Hansen in a wide-ranging interview.
10:20 |Buenos días! There are just under two hours to go until the first peep of the referee's whistle - stay tuned for all the build-up!
Atlético Madrid-Barcelona: match preview
Top spot is at stake as second plays host to first in a crunch Liga Iberdrola match-up between the two best sides in the country, in what is the final fixture before the league begins its winter break.
There is so much to look forward to: two teams stuffed with internationals, Barça's desire for revenge after losing last term's Copa de la Reina final to Atleti...
And it'll be played out against the best possible backdrop: the Estadio Vicente Calderón. The stadium, which the Spanish capital club is to leave at the end of the season, stages a women's football match for the first time in its history.
Both teams head into the encounter out to return to winning ways after midweek slip-ups. Atlético were held to a goalless draw by Granadilla Egatesa, while Barça also had to settle for point in a 1-1 stalemate with Valencia.
It's likely that they had one eye on today's top-of-the-table meeting. After all, it's an opportunity to send out a statement in the title race and end 2016 in first place - which currently belongs to the visitors, who are two points ahead of Atleti.
It'll be a special day for many, particularly Sonia Bermúdez, Kenti Robles, Andrea Falcón and Marta Corredera: a quartet of home players with Barcelona pasts. Blaugrana striker Jenni Hermoso, meanwhile, began her career at Atlético.
A fiesta of women's football is in store at the Calderón.
Atlético Madrid-Barcelona: possible line-ups
Atlético Madrid XI: Gallardo, Kenti, León, Pereira, Alexandra, Meseguer, Sampedro, Corredera, Soni, Priscila, Esther