Spain international, Pablo Barrios, bagged a brace to inspire Atletico Madrid to a commanding 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders in Thursday’s FIFA Club World Cup fixture at Lumen Field, Seattle.
The La Liga giants proved too strong for the MLS side, with Barrios scoring twice and Axel Witsel adding another to secure all three points in Group B.
Atletico set the tone early, dominating possession from kickoff. Their pressure paid off in the 11th minute when Barrios netted the opener following a sustained spell of control.
Despite creating further chances, the Spanish side couldn’t add to their lead before halftime, entering the break with a slender 1-0 advantage.
Moments into the second half, Atleti doubled their lead. Marcos Llorente’s strike was pushed away by Stefan Frei but not out of danger. Witsel pounced on the loose ball, heading it into the net to make it 2-0.
Seattle quickly responded. Albert Rusnak capitalized on a chaotic sequence inside the Atletico box, calmly slotting home to offer the Sounders a glimmer of hope.
The Sounders’ Designated Player tapped home after the ball came to his feet after a scramble in the box, and it handed the MLS club a brief spell of life.
But that spark was quickly extinguished by Barrios, who sealed his brace and restored Atletico’s two-goal cushion just before the hour mark.
The 22-year-old scored Atleti’s third in the 57th minute and put the game to bed.
With the win, Atletico take control of Group B heading into Monday’s crucial showdown against Brazilian side Botafogo.
A victory there could secure their place in the knockout rounds. On the other hand, the Sounders’ hopes hang by a thread.
Their fate may be decided as early as Thursday night, If PSG win or secure a draw against Botafogo, the Western Conference MLS side will have no chance of advancing into the knockout stage of the tournament.
The defeat also marked an unwanted milestone for Seattle, as they fell to a fourth consecutive loss across all competitions, something they haven’t experienced since the 2019 MLS campaign.
Barrios was undoubtedly the star of the night. The Spain international was remarkable all evening long, scoring two goals as he secured his first career brace while leading Atleti to an important three points.
He put his versatility on full display all evening, testing the Seattle defense throughout the game. A well-rounded showing highlighted by his killer instinct in front of net.
Defensively, the Sounders struggled to cope with Atleti’s movement in the final third. Seattle was caught out on two of the three goals, failing to mark Atletico’s attackers in the box.
Simple defensive errors ultimately separated the two on the night, though goalkeeper Stefan Frei did make a few important saves.
Atletico next face Botafogo in the group’s final fixture, while the Sounders must now prepare for a difficult matchup against PSG as their tournament future hangs in the balance.
