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11 months ago
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Joao Felix's first match against Atletico Madrid on loan at Barcelona couldn't have whizzed by much more chaotically.
The 24-year-old scored the winning goal against his parent club, riled up his old teammates, and got under Diego Simeone's skin in a tense La Liga affair.
Felix scored the only goal in Barcelona's 1-0 win as he took sweet revenge against Los Colchoneros and ensured that Simeone's Barca curse dragged on.
The Portuguese winger almost broke into a scuffle with former team-mate Jose Gimenez and Simeone refused to congratulate Felix after the game - even though he won Man of the Match.
Gimenez and Felix squared up to each other as the latter accused the defender of hitting him.
Diego Simeone refused to congratulate Joao Felix after his Man of the Match, goalscoring performance
Felix scored the winner in Barcelona's 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid and was a thron in their side all evening
He had a dispute with Jose Gimenez, who said Felix wanted to 'fight' as things got heated
'Do you want to fight or what? Yes, do you want to fight,' the Uruguayan said as the two sized each other up.
Atletico captain Koke had to calm down his infuriated team-mate, saying: 'That's it, calm down. Have you seen? He's looking for you to see the second yellow, calm down
Felix was a thorn in Atletico's side until his substitution and celebrated his goal with pleasiure, standing on the advertising hoardings and opening his arms to the Barcelona supporters.
On three occasions Cesar Azpilicueta fouled Felix and Simeone accused the forward of being a diver, even though the defender was booked and could maybe have been sent off.
Simeone did not acknowledge Felix when he came off - and vice versa - and had little to say about him after the defeat.
The manager said: 'I don't talk about my rivals, I talk about my team and I keep the good things.'
Simeone has a miserable record visiting Barcelona and has not won away against them for more than a decade.
Meanwhile, Felix insisted that he has a positive relationship with his parent club in the aftermath of the game.
Felix was not reserved in his celebrations, standing on the advertising hoardings in front of the Barcelona fans with his arms open
Simeone and Felix did not acknowledge each other when the 24-year-old was substituted and the manager accused him of diving
Joao Felix split his time between the academy and first team at Atletico Madrid's pre-season training as Simeone gave him the cold shoulder
He said: 'I get along well with all of them. I have nothing against them. I love them very much and I hope they do very well... except against us.'
That acknowledged, Felix's strained relationship with the side led him to escape to Barcelona on loan this summer.
He trained with Atletico Madrid's academy for part of the summer as Simeone froze him out and issued a come and get me plea to the Catalan giants, saying he would 'love to join them' and they have 'always' been his 'first choice'.
And Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak took a dig at him in the run-up to the Barcelona clash, suggesting he was inconsistent while in Madrid.
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