Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona summary: score, goals, highlights | LaLiga 2021-22

(Reuters) Former Barcelona striker Luis Suárez heaped more misery on his old club as Atlético Madrid claimed a 2-0 LaLiga victory over the Catalans at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.

First-half strikes from Thomas Lemar and Suárez were enough for the champions to secure all three points and heap pressure on the visitors' beleaguered boss Ronald Koeman.

Barça have won just one game in their last six in all competitions as their early season struggles show no signs of easing.

Victory moved Atlético level with Real Madrid, who travel to Barça's city rivals Espanyol on Sunday, on 17 points from eight games.

Barcelona, meanwhile, sit ninth with 12 points having played a game fewer

And there's the whistle! Atleti run out 2-0 winners without really getting out of third gear and Barça suffer another defeat, albeit their first in LaLiga this season, placing Koeman under even more pressure.

Lenglet sends Griezmann flying and Atleti have a free kick. This may well be the last kick...

Barça try to find a way through, Felipe hoofs it to the other end.

Llorente almost finds his way through from a Griezmann ball but his touch lets him down. Three minutes added.

Atleti break and it looks promising until Correa plays it straight to a Barça defender. The home side have switched off now as they sense Barça have nothing left to offer.

And the Dutchman takes but it's high and Oblak watches it fly over the bar.

Barça gifted another set-piece opportunity as Lemar flattens Memphis.

A picture being worth a thousand words...

Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

Is there a finer sight in football than Simeone geeing up the crowd? we think not.

It's a training ground routine as Memphis lands the ball on Piqué's head but the defender's flick-on is straight out for a goal kick.

Koke goes into the naughty book for a clip on Ansu and Barça have another free kick just outside the area.

Another corner for Barça, another poor delivery from Memphis.

Griezmann! The Barça loanee picks Araújo's pocket and charges forward but fails to find the onrushing Lemar with a cross-field ball. The Metropolitano applauds anyway. The home fans are thoroughly enjoying this.

Double change for Atleti. Felix and Suárez off to an ovation as Correa and Griezmann come on. 

And it's Ansu who takes but he gets underneath the effort and skies it.

Free kick for Barça on the edge of the area as Ansu is floored...

Atleti are carving Barça open at will now and it seems only a matter of time before they find another.

Felix! A one-two with Suárez sees the Portuguese open on the edge of the area but his shot is straight at Ter Stegen.

A look at the top of the table as it stands.

And here comes Ansu. Coutinho makes way for the youngster after a decent evening's work.

Coutinho! And there's the first! A sweeping move from Barça ends at the boots of the Brazilian, who hits the target but also the considerable frame of Oblak.

Ansu Fati is out to warm up as we approach the hour mark. Barça have yet to muster a shot on target.

Atletico look very, very comfortable at the back now and you have to wonder at what stage Barça decide to try and limit the damage rather than invite the home side to break.

Carrasco goes to ground in the area in a tussle with Araújo but the ref is unmoved.

But Ter Stegen decides to come out for it and makes no mistake with a thumping punch to clear the danger.

Corner for Atleti now...

Memphis wins a corner for Barça as Giménez tries and fails to usher the ball out. Atleti clear with little fuss though. Barça have failed to make any hay from the corner flag this evening.

We're back underway!

Sergi Roberto is coming on to replace Nico, De Paul is off for Atlético and Kieran Trippier comes on for the home side.

That "biggest win" one perhaps worth keeping an eye on...

Some general stats from our friends at Sofa Score.

Ronald Koeman does not look very happy in the stands after that first half performance.

And that's the half! Atlético are 2-0 up and it's been a while since they have enjoyed that sort of advantage over Barça after 45 minutes.

Free for Barça out on the left but MIngueza can't get a boot on Memphis' ball into the area and it rolls out on the far side.

Atleti break swiftly and Lemar lofts a ball to the Uruguyan on the far side. He has time and picks his spot, slotting past Ter Stegen to double Atleti's lead!

Memphis' delivery is straight into the paws of Oblak though.

Barça have a free in an interesting area as Carrasco is picked up for handball.

Barcelona are struggling to bring the ball out from the back and Atleti's press is doing the job for now. A shake of the head from Memphis as he realizes chances are going to be few and far between this evening.

Felix is electric this evening and Araújo stops the Portuguese flyer the only way he can. Atleti win a corner from a swift free kick but Barça clear their lines.

Oblak is down after Piqué lands an elbow in a challenge in the area. The Barça defender scarpers and the ref seems happy enough that it was accidental.

Corner to Barça, much to the disgruntlement of Savic.

De Jong! Memphis nods the ball back across goal and the Dutchman arrives at the far stick but can't get his boot on it at full stretch.

Suárez! He doesn't normally miss those! Felix, who is having a stormer so far, plays a wonderful ball to the Uruguayan who picks his spot in the far corner but misses by a whisker! Barça are clinging on for dear life at the back.

Coutinho! Giménez makes a bit of a hash of a headed clearance and it falls to the Brazilian, who wraps his laces around an outside of the boot shot that flashes just wide!

The Portuguese plays a glorious ball to Suárez, who tees up Lemar for a left-footed strike into the roof of the net!

Piqué and Busquets get into a right old slanging match after being carved open by the home side.

Oblak is off his line like a whippet to deny Coutinho a sniff after a beautifully weighted ball into the area.

Gavi finds his way into the book for a shoulder charge on Lemar as the Frenchman was threatening to break.

Nico has a pop and Barça win a corner as his effort pings off a defender.

Felix! Carrasco nicks the ball in the Barça half and finds Lemar on the edge of the area. The Frenchman lays off a nice little ball for the Portuguese, whose effort flashes just wide of Ter Stegen's near stick.

Barça launch a sustained assault on the Atleti back four but it comes to a halt as the lino raises his flag for an offside against Mingueza.

Felix has the Metropolitano on its feet after a scintillating run and a lovely attempted flick for Lemar. The duel between the Portuguese wunderkind and Mingueza will be a fascinating one this evening.

Ten minutes in, four fouls from Barça, zero from Atlético.

Lemar and Suárez combine after the Frenchman shows the Barça back four a clean pair of heels but his eventual shot rattles the hoardings behind Ter Stegen's goal.

Alfred Schreuder is on the touchline for Barcelona this evening as Koeman serves the second of a two-match ban.

But it's Savic who floats it to the far post, where it eludes Felix and bobs out for a goal kick. Atleti might as well have had a pop from there to at least warm Ter Stegen's gloves.

Free kick to Atlético as Felix gets in a tangle with Mingueza. De Paul is eyeing it up...

A lovely move by Barça ends in a blocked Coutinho effort after some great footwork from Dest on the left. Decent start from the visitors.

We're off! Barcelona get the ball rolling in the Metropolitano!

The Cholo effect...

While Koeman opts for a 4-3-3 with Nico in midfield and Gavi up top alongside Memphis and Coutinho.

Confirmation of Atlético's 3-5-2 this evening.

Barcelona scene setting at the Metropolitano

Barcelona starting XI confirmed

Koeman has handed starts to teenagers Nico González and Gavi with Mingueza and Araújo coming in to help patch up the back line.

Atlético starting XI confirmed

Diego Simeone has gone for three at the back this evening with Luis Suárez and João Félix leading the line. Griezmann will have to wait for his chance for a swing at his parent club. Marcos Llorente and Yannick Carrasco as wing backs should be fun to watch.

Spectators should probably not be expecting a deluge of goals this evening either. In the last 15 Liga meetings between Atlético and Barça, there have been more than three goals scored just twice, a 3-1 at Camp Nou in 2015 and the 2-2 draw from two seasons ago, also in Barcelona.

Over that same timeframe, there have been eight games that have ended either 1-0 or 1-1 and one goalless draw.

Atlético are in fourth after a surprise 1-0 defeat against Alavés last weekend. A pair of draws has not helped Simeone's cause and his side are struggling for goals, not that El Cholo's Atleti have exactly banged them in historically. Nine in seven games though is not title-winning form when the famous back line are elaking almost a goal a game (six in seven). It's also worth noting six of Atleti's goals have come away from home.

Barcelona go into tonight's game eighth in the table after three wins and three draws in six games so far. They have a game in hand though, which is some comfort to Koeman.

Laporta on Koeman

"Koeman will stay on as head coach regardless of the result. He will stay. He deserves a margin of confidence. He loves Barça, he’s a reference point. I have spoken to him and I have drawn my conclusions. He took over Barça at a difficult time," Laporta said.

"He may have had moments of discouragement but he has recovered his spirits. After talking to him, I can see that he has confidence in this team, especially as soon as he has the injured players back. From then on, we will have more room for manoeuvre.

"We have not had a cold relationship. It’s a good and honest relationship. He’s a good person, he thinks the same about me and we’re all trying to turn things around for the better," he added.

He's going to get sacked in the morning, isn't he?

Suárez and Griezmann gunning for Barça

Suárez has spoken publicly, and often, about his displeasure at the treatment meted out to him by Koeman and the Barça board and replied in typcal Suárez style by firing Atlético to the title last season.

Griezmann's return to the club has not been spectacular to date but the Frenchman would doubtless dearly like to win over his old fans by sticking one past his former teammate Ter Stegen this evening.

Photo: PEPE ANDRES

In fairness to Koeman, Barça have lost Messi, Luis Suárez and Antoine Griezmann in little over a year, and the replacements have been underwhelming. Sergio Agüero has yet to kick a ball for Barça and many of the Camp Nou faithful would probably prefer it if the unfortunate Luuk de Jong didn't do so again after a horrow show against Benfica.

With Ousmane Dembélé and Martin Braithwaite out injured, it may be just as well that Koeman will not be fired this evening. 

SOCCER | BARCELONA

Laporta: Koeman will remain in charge of Barça regardless of Atlético result

There's only one place to start this evening and that's with Ronald Koeman. The Barcelona manager has been skating on increasingly thin ice at Camp Nou amid reports of a bist-up with Joan Laporta, disagreements with players, essentially claiming that Leo Messi had papered over the cracks for years (not without some rationale on that point) but most importantly his side being walloped by Bayern and Benfica in Europe and hardly setting LaLiga alight.

It was something of a surprise then when Laporta said earlier today that Koeman's job is not on the line on the basis of tonight's result against Atlético.

Atlético vs Barcelona live: welcome

Hello and welcome to AS English's live coverage of the LaLiga matchday 8 fixture between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona from the Metropolitano. Kick-off this evening is at 21:00 CEST.