"Pique and Puyol would beat me up and then apologise, and I would say to them, 'Don't apologise, insult me.' Against Barcelona, I only defended; we hardly touched the ball against them. This reflects Costa's experience facing Barcelona's dominant defensive partnership and the physical nature of their encounters during matches between the two clubs."
"During those years, Barcelona dominated Spanish and European football, particularly under Pep Guardiola. Costa encountered them repeatedly in high-stakes clashes between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Over six seasons, Atletico managed to defeat Barcelona in just four official matches, yet achieved an unforgettable exception in May 2014 with a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou that secured the La Liga title."
Diego Costa built his reputation as a relentless, aggressive striker during his peak at Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone, becoming one of La Liga's most feared forwards through constant pressing and physical intensity. Throughout his career, Costa faced numerous defender types, but identified Barcelona icons Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique as among the toughest. These La Masia products formed Barcelona's defensive backbone between 2008 and 2014, dominating Spanish and European football under Pep Guardiola. Costa recalled their confrontations with humor, noting they would physically challenge him then apologize. Despite Barcelona's superiority, Atletico defeated them only four times across six seasons, though achieved a memorable 1-1 draw at Camp Nou in May 2014 that secured the La Liga title.
Read at Barca Universal
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