Politics takes a back seat to Barcelona’s first slip-up

All week the build-up to Barcelona’s visit to Atletico Madrid on Saturday night had centred on the difficult political situation in Spain, with a push towards independence in Catalonia, and the central authorities in the capital pushing back.

But in the end politics took a back seat over the 90 minutes, with Atletico’s first half upper hand getting its reward in Saul Niguez’s opening goal, and Barca’s dominance after the break finally seeing Luis Suarez head a deserved equaliser late on.

Outside Atletico’s new Wanda Metropolitano home pre-game there were few Barca jerseys to be seen, and enterprising stallholders were selling scarves with the message: ‘This is Spain, if you don’t like it you can leave’.