With victory comes vindication, redemption and revenge the basis of so many stories, especially in sport – and certainly this Sunday in the match they’re trying to rebrand the “Super Duel”, a cousin to the clásico. When João Félix scored his first goal in 12 games to defeat Porto on Tuesday, putting Barcelona top of Group H and allaying fears of another early European exit, he celebrated by kissing the badge he has worn 16 times. Five days later, he faces the club he still belongs to, Atlético Madrid, in the league, attempting to avoid a defeat that would feel a little like an exit too, even as early as this. “If he kisses the badge this time,” Atlético’s president, Enrique Cerezo, said, “it’s because he feels Barcelona.”
Or because perhaps he has a point to prove, every goal a rebellion, a message for both clubs: the one that owns him and the one he hopes will. Cerezo’s tongue was surely wedged in his cheek, mischievously noting “many players kiss badges”. After four frustrating seasons at Atlético and one aborted escape bid with Chelsea, on the last day of the summer window Félix departed Atlético and joined Barcelona on a one-year loan. In July, he had announced: “I would love to go to Barcelona; that’s been my wish since I was a kid.”
