Atletico Madrid Claims Dramatic Victory Over Barcelona
MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone ran down the touchline in joy as Barcelona players sank to the turf in dismay after a thrilling La Liga encounter. In a stunning finish, super sub Alexander Sørloth scored deep in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 comeback victory for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona.
With this victory, Atletico Madrid climbed to the top of La Liga, ending the day three points clear of their rivals. This win marked their 12th consecutive victory across all competitions.
Match Highlights
Barcelona began the match strongly, dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities. The opening breakthrough came in the 30th minute with a brilliant goal from Pedri, who combined expertly with Gavi to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
However, Barcelona’s inability to capitalize on their chances proved costly. After a defensive error from Barcelona’s Marc Casadó, Rodrigo De Paul equalized for Atletico just three minutes after the first goal.
The climax came in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Nahuel Molina’s excellent run allowed him to set up Sørloth, who delivered a powerful strike to clinch the game.
Simeone and Player Reactions
Atletico Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone praised his team’s resilience, stating, ‘I’m very happy with the team’s effort. We were humble enough to suffer and defend against a team that plays very well.’
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak also expressed his relief, saying, ‘We finally did it. We started poorly but we knew our chances would come.’
Other La Liga Updates
Athletic Bilbao continued their impressive form with a 2-1 victory over Osasuna, extending their unbeaten streak to 14 matches. Meanwhile, Mallorca secured a 1-0 win against Getafe with a penalty from Cyle Larin.
The loss leaves Barcelona’s title ambitions in jeopardy, as they may fall to third place depending on Real Madrid’s outcome in their upcoming match.
This match serves as a dramatic reminder of the competitiveness of La Liga, where every point matters, and each team’s ability to seize opportunities can drastically shift standings.
