 |
| AP Photo |
MADRID (AP) — JoĂŁo FĂ©lix has given Atletico Madrid fans even more reason not to like him.
Playing on loan from Atletico after falling out with the club last season — and highly unlikely to return — Felix scored with a neat shot over goalkeeper Jan Oblak in the 28th minute to give Barcelona a 1-0 home victory on Sunday and move the Catalan team closer to the top of the Spanish league standings.
“It was a relief after everything that I went through last summer,” said FĂ©lix, who was still with Atletico when he upset fans by saying his dream was to play for Barcelona. “Only those close to me know what it was like, especially my family. This was for them.”
The victory put Barcelona back within four points of leaders Girona and Real Madrid, which won their matches on Saturday. Madrid beat Granada 2-0 and Girona defeated Valencia 2-1.
Atletico, winless in its last 18 away matches against Barcelona in the league, dropped to fourth place, three points behind Barcelona in third but with a game in hand.
It was the fourth win in four matches between Barcelona's coach Xavi HernĂĄndez and Atletico's Diego Simeone.
