Atletico win opener as Barcelona leap into post Messi future
Defending champions Atletico Madrid got their Spanish Liga season underway with a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo on Sunday as Barcelona braced for "a leap into the unknown" without Lionel Messi.
Angel Correa gave Atletico the lead after 23 minutes after being set up by Thomas Lemar. Correa added a second goal in the 64th minute just five minutes after Iago Aspas had pulled Celta level from the penalty spot.
However, the game was marred by a mass brawl in the closing stages following a foul on Atletico striker Luis Suarez. Red cards were brandished for Hugo Mallo of Celta and Mario Hermoso of Atletico.
Barcelona fans were, meanwhile, contemplating their post-Lionel Messi future which was starting with a home encounter against Real Sociedad later Sunday. Messi may have joined Paris Saint-Germain but his memory lingers heavy over the Camp Nou despite the removal of a giant photograph of the Argentine superstar from the entrance in the wake of his move to France.
A crowd of 25,000 was expected as part of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and anger clearly remains in the wake of Messi's unexpected departure after 21 years at the Catalan club.
The remaining matchday one games see Sevilla take on Rayo Vallecano on Sunday while there are two matches on Monday as Villarreal go up against Granada while Elche meet Athletic Bilbao.