Atlético Madrid broke an 18-year streak without a victory in Barcelona, [coming from behind to defeat the Blaugranes 2-1 at Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc](https://barcanewsnetwork.com/pedri-9-5-lewandowski-5-0-barcelona-1-2-atletico-madrid-player-ratings/).
While celebrating his team’s dramatic late win, Diego Simeone was quick to acknowledge Barcelona’s recent struggles, highlighting the fine margins that have worked against Hansi Flick’s side in recent weeks.
Speaking after the game, as highlighted by [SPORT](https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/simeone-barca-perdido-partidos-merecia-112837867), Simeone admitted that Barcelona’s results do not reflect their performances. **“Barça has lost games they didn’t deserve to lose,”** he said. **Against Leganés, they had many chances, and the same happened against Las Palmas. But football has these situations. When the goals don’t come, it starts to become a problem.”**
Despite Barcelona’s dominance for long stretches of the match, Atlético capitalized on their chances, with Simeone acknowledging that fortune also played a role. **“They had many opportunities, but we had the goddess of fortune on our side with our effectiveness,”** the Argentine coach noted.
Simeone also took a moment to praise the competitive nature of Flick’s Barcelona, recognizing their ability to create opportunities and push opponents to the limit. **“In the second half, the game was much more contested. They played with intensity and created a lot of chances,”** he said.
While Barcelona’s struggles in front of goal have become a recurring issue, Simeone’s remarks suggest that the Blaugrana remain a formidable opponent, with their underlying performances painting a brighter picture than recent results.
Simeone emphasized the challenge of competing against giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid, expressing admiration for their strength and consistency. **“The way we can compete with two monsters like Barça and Madrid is by ensuring that everyone in our squad is prepared and ready to give their best,”** he remarked.
While the defeat adds to a growing list of setbacks for Barcelona this season, Simeone’s comments highlight the narrow margins that have defined many of their recent games. As the Blaugranes regroup, their ability to convert performances into results will be key to turning their season around.
For now, Simeone’s Atlético leaves Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc with the spoils, but his words serve as a reminder that Barcelona’s struggles are not as straightforward as they may seem.