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Few strikers in modern football were as relentless as Diego Costa.
During his peak years at Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone, he became one of the most feared forwards in La Liga.
Aggressive, intense and constantly on edge, Costa built his reputation by exhausting defenders both physically and mentally.
He pressed without pause, fought for every loose ball and never stopped competing.
Across his professional career, Costa came up against every type of defender imaginable.
Veterans, rising talents, towering centre-backs and quick technicians, and he tested them all.
Yet among the toughest he faced were two Barcelona icons, namely, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique.
Reflecting on the battle
The defensive partnership of Puyol and Pique defined an era at Barcelona.
Both La Masia products, they formed the backbone of the club’s backline between 2008 and 2014.
Diego Costa was a tough nut to crack. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
During those years, Barça dominated Spanish and European football, particularly under Pep Guardiola.
Costa encountered them repeatedly in high-stakes clashes between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
Reflecting on those confrontations, Costa shared a revealing and humorous memory.
“Pique and Puyol would beat me up and then apologise, and I would say to them, ‘Don’t apologise, insult me,’” he said ironically.
“Against Barça, I only defended; we hardly touched the ball against them,” he remembered.
Barça’s superiority in that era is supported by results. Over six seasons, Atletico managed to defeat Barcelona in just four official matches.
Yet there was one unforgettable exception. In May 2014, Atletico travelled to Camp Nou needing just a point to secure the La Liga title.
Eventually, a 1-1 draw was enough to crown them champions.
Source: SPORT