In a dramatic finish, Atlético Madrid snatched a 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, putting them atop La Liga heading into the winter break. For all their dominance in possession and the chances they created, Barcelona couldn’t hold on, and as the final whistle blew, Atlético Madrid celebrated a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Alexander Sørloth.
Barcelona controlled the early stages of the match. Pedri broke the deadlock in the 30th minute, finishing a well-timed pass from Gavi with a low strike past Jan Oblak. Despite several chances, including a Raphinha lob that clipped the crossbar, the hosts couldn’t build on their lead.
Gavi, unmarked in the 25th minute, also missed a header from close range after a Raphinha cross. His later assist for Pedri seemed to redeem him. But Barcelona’s failure to capitalize on their dominance started to feel like a warning.
Atlético’s Resilience and Barcelona’s Missed Opportunities
In the second half, Atlético Madrid remained under pressure. Barcelona continued to create opportunities, but Atlético had their first real chance in the 60th minute when a defensive error from Marc Casadó allowed Rodrigo De Paul to fire in the equalizer. De Paul capitalized on the mistake, making it 1-1 with a superb finish.
As the match wore on, Barcelona squandered more chances. Oblak denied Fermin López, while Raphinha’s header failed to hit the target. With the game on a knife-edge, Barcelona’s inability to convert was punished in the dying seconds.
In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Nahuel Molina delivered a cross that Sørloth, a second-half substitute, met with a header that sent Atlético into ecstasy. It was a cruel blow for Barcelona, which had been the better side for most of the match but was left to rue its missed opportunities.
The defeat marked a grim milestone for Barcelona, who suffered their third consecutive home loss in La Liga. This was their first league defeat to Atlético Madrid at home since 2006. From a 10-point lead in November, Barcelona now finds themselves three points behind Atlético, who have capitalized on a blistering run of form to seize the top spot.
Hansi Flick, watching from the stands due to a touchline ban, remained calm. “We will show how strong we are,” he said after the game, though it’s clear that Barcelona’s recent slump is cause for concern. Their tactical approach under Flick seems to be falling short, with players unable to execute when it matters most.
For Atlético Madrid, this win was another testament to their resilience. Though outplayed for much of the match, they found a way to claim all three points. With their 12th consecutive win across all competitions, Atlético sit atop La Liga as they enter the break with momentum.
Barcelona, on the other hand, must regroup quickly. They must find answers during the break to remain in the title hunt. With Atlético in the driver’s seat and Real Madrid lurking, the second half of the season promises to be full of twists and turns.
