Atletico Madrid stuns Barcelona with comeback victory to top La Liga
The match, held on Saturday night, began with Barcelona taking the lead in the 30th minute through Pedri.
KATHMANDU: Atletico Madrid showcased their resilience with a stunning comeback win over Barcelona, defeating the Catalan club 2–1 at their home ground to claim the top spot in La Liga. Goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Alexander Sørloth sealed the victory, nullifying Pedri’s opener for Barcelona.
The match, held on Saturday night, began with Barcelona taking the lead in the 30th minute through Pedri. The young midfielder capitalized on a backheel assist from Gavi, smoothly finishing past Atletico’s defense. Despite dominating the first half, Barcelona failed to maintain their momentum in the second.
In the 59th minute, Barcelona missed a golden opportunity to double their lead. Raphinha’s chip struck the crossbar, and Robert Lewandowski’s follow-up shot was deflected wide. A minute later, Atletico leveled the score. Rodrigo De Paul pounced on a poorly cleared backheel, driving the ball into the net to make it 1–1.
Barcelona pushed for a winner, with goalkeeper Jan Oblak repeatedly denying their attempts. Atletico, however, delivered a decisive blow during injury time. Substitute Alexander Sørloth, who entered in the 73rd minute, converted a Nahuel Molina pass with a volley from 12 yards out, securing Atletico’s first win over Barcelona since 2021.
This victory ends Barcelona’s five-match winning streak against Atletico. With 41 points from 18 games, Atletico now leads La Liga, while Barcelona sits second with 38 points, having played one more match.
Barcelona’s recent struggles in La Liga continue, earning only five points from their last seven matches. Their run includes defeats to Real Sociedad, Las Palmas, and Leganes, along with draws against Celta Vigo and Real Betis. Their sole victory during this stretch was a 5–1 triumph over Mallorca.
Atletico’s triumph underscores their determination as they push for the La Liga title.
