Atletico Madrid secured the top spot in La Liga going into the Christmas break on Saturday with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Barcelona. Alexander Sorloth’s goal in the 96th minute at the Olympic Stadium completed the victory, which was Atletico’s first away league triumph over Barcelona under Diego Simeone.
Barcelona dominated possession and applied constant pressure on Atletico at the start of the game. When Pedri planned and executed an incredible move in the 30th minute, their efforts were rewarded. After breaking through Atletico’s defense and joining forces with Gavi, the Spanish midfielder slotted the ball past Jan Oblak to give Barcelona a well-earned lead.
Early in the second half, Barcelona had several chances to increase their lead. Raphinha struck the crossbar after being put up by a lovely Pedri pass, while Oblak denied Fermin Lopez. Atletico, however, made up for Barcelona’s lost chances.
Rodrigo De Paul equalized the scoring in the 62nd minute with a low strike into the bottom corner after Marc Casado botched his backheel clearing. De Paul’s outstanding form was highlighted by the fact that it was his third goal in four league games.
End-to-end action dominated the closing moments. Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona missed a close-range opportunity, and Inaki Pena stopped Pablo Barrios of Atletico’s attempt. Oblak maintained his excellent play by making vital saves to deny Pedri and Raphinha.
Alexander Sorloth secured a thrilling victory by smashing the ball into the net after Nahuel Molina’s accurate cross deep into stoppage time. Despite just starting seven games this season, Sorloth’s eighth league goal solidified his place as Atletico’s leading scorer.
In addition to being Simeone’s first league victory at Barcelona, this victory also extended Atletico’s winning streak to 12 games across all competitions. The team’s amazing depth and knack for scoring goals in the 90th minute or later have been crucial, as Atletico has scored in the 90th minute or later in 13 games this season.
Jan Oblak was ecstatic, saying, “We’d never won at Barcelona since I arrived, and at last, we’ve done it. We suffered a lot, but we resisted and fought back.”
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Pedri lamented the loss, saying, “It’s truly a tough defeat to take. We had the game in our hands and didn’t take advantage.”
Atletico Madrid now sit three points clear at the top of La Liga, with a game in hand over Barcelona. Diego Simeone’s side has sent a powerful message to their rivals, showcasing resilience and determination as they head into the winter break as league leaders.