Watch Dani Alves send Nou Camp WILD with screamer for Barcelona in win over Atletico Madrid… before being SENT OFF
BARCELONA icon Dani Alves showed he can still net a screamer at 38… and hasn’t lost his eye for a mistimed lunge.
The veteran may have been left out of Xavi’s Europa League squad, but he made up for it with an absolute belter against Atletico Madrid.
With Barca 3-1 up in a must-win LaLiga clash against Atletico, a cross in from the left by Gavi was missed by both Pedri and Ferran Torres.
However it dropped to Alves on the edge of the area, and he absolutely hammered the ball home past Jan Oblak with a first time effort.
It was Alves’ first goal since his surprise return to the cash-strapped Catalans at the end of last year, having left them after eight trophy-laden seasons in 2016.
The scorcher made it 4-1 to Barcelona, effectively sealing the points and sending them into the top four of LaLiga, above Atletico.
But Alves’ perfect day ended early when he was SENT OFF 20 minutes later for a nasty studs-up tackle on Yannick Carrasco.
The Brazilian full-back dragged his studs down the back of Carrasco’s leg, and was given his marching orders after the intervention of VAR with 20 minutes left on the clock.
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Fortunately for him the error wasn’t costly, as Barca held on to claim a precious 4-2 victory.
But a ban will affect Alves’ playing time, given he’s been overlooked for Europa League duty.
He’s been mainly restricted to cup competitions since signing on a free transfer last year, with the game against Atletico just his second league start after rejoining the club.
And now he’ll have a three match ban to serve, which will put him out of action for the next couple of weeks.
To make matters worse even his impressive goal wasn’t the best of the game.
That award went to Jordi Alba, who rifled home a stunning volley to draw Barcelona level after Carrasco’s opener.
Gavi and Ronald Araujo also got themselves on the scoresheet, in what was a bonkers game in LaLiga.
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