Atletico Madrid snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, taking the lead in La Liga and extending their superb run of form.
Despite Pedri giving Barcelona a first-half advantage, Atletico rallied in the second half with goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Alexander Sorloth. Sorloth’s stoppage-time winner sealed a 12th consecutive victory across all competitions for Diego Simeone’s side, who now sit three points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.
Barcelona’s struggles continued, marking their third consecutive home league defeat—a streak not seen since 1987. The Catalans have won just one of their last seven league matches.
“It’s inexplicable… we had the game in our hands and we didn’t take advantage,” lamented Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi.
Real Madrid, currently third, could also surpass Barcelona with a win over Sevilla on Sunday.
Barcelona controlled the first half, with Pedri breaking the deadlock in the 30th minute after combining with Gavi. The midfield maestro calmly slotted past Jan Oblak, capping off a brilliant solo run.
The Catalans had opportunities to extend their lead, with Fermin Lopez denied by Oblak and Raphinha striking the crossbar. However, Atletico capitalised on a defensive error in the 62nd minute, as Marc Casado’s backheel clearance fell to De Paul, who rifled a low shot into the bottom corner.
Both teams pressed for a winner in the closing stages. Robert Lewandowski missed a golden opportunity from close range, while Atletico’s Pablo Barrios was thwarted by Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena. Deep into stoppage time, Nahuel Molina’s pinpoint cross found Sorloth, who hammered home the decisive goal.
Atletico’s substitutes have been vital this season, with Sorloth emerging as a standout performer. Despite starting just seven league games, the Norwegian forward leads the team with eight goals. Atletico’s resilience and ability to score late have been key to their success, with the team finding the net in the 90th minute or beyond in 13 games across all competitions this season.
Earlier in the day, Athletic Bilbao secured a 2-1 win over Osasuna, tightening their grip on fourth place as the league heads into the Christmas break.
