Barcelona’s clash against Atletico Madrid sparked fireworks as Joao Felix, on loan from Atletico, proved to be the game-changer with a spectacular goal leading to Barcelona’s hard-fought 1-0 victory.

“It was spontaneous. I was in the heat of the game and it was like a relief for everything I’ve been through this summer,” Felix revealed in an interview with Movistar Plus, expressing his emotions after scoring against his parent club. “Only the people closest to me, my family mainly, know what I’ve been through. So the goal was dedicated to them.”

The Portuguese forward’s exquisite 28th-minute finish over goalkeeper Jan Oblak brought the jubilant home crowd to their feet. Felix didn’t shy away from celebrating, sharing his elation with the fans. Follow your favourite La Liga team with attractive La Liga odds from Nextbet.

“I couldn’t believe (when the fans chanted his name). I know how great this club is and to have your name chanted is not something that happens to many. I’m delighted,” he added.

Barcelona’s strategic play under Xavi Hernandez’s guidance proved effective as they dominated the first half, with Felix’s goal being the highlight. Despite missed opportunities and an outstanding performance by Oblak, Barcelona maintained control, controlling over 65% of possession.

However, Atletico Madrid, feeling the heat, made halftime changes in a bid to shift momentum. This alteration brought a change in pace as they pushed for an equalizer in the later stages of the game. Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Inaki Pena, stood tall in the face of Atletico’s late onslaught, denying them a chance to level the score.

“It hurts a lot, we didn’t start well, we didn’t shoot in the first half and it hurts,” expressed a disappointed Jan Oblak in an interview with Movistar Plus. “If we had played a bit better in the first half we would have had a chance but we were bad and we were punished.”

With this win, Barcelona climbs to third place in LaLiga, surpassing Atletico Madrid by four points, setting the stage for an intriguing battle in the top ranks. Get the latest updates from the La Liga only on Nextbet Sports.