Published 07:38 IST, December 22nd 2024
'We Finally Did It': Atletico Madrid Elated After Injury Time Winner Against FC Barcelona
Atletico Madrid defeated FC Barcelona 2-1 after a last minute goal to take the lead in the La Liga table.
FC Barcelona have finally lost their lead of the La Liga as they went down 2-1 against Atletico Madrid last night. Atletico Madrid got the win in the 90+6th minute of the match as they took their points tally to 41 points leaving Barcelona in second place with 38 points. Real Madrid stay in third place but are right in the fight for the top position in La Liga and with a win tonight can go second in La Liga ahead of Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid Beat Barcelona 2-1 In La Liga
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone ran down the touchline in joy while Barcelona players sunk to the turf in dismay.
Super sub Alexander Sørloth struck again deep in stoppage time to hand Atletico a 2-1 comeback win at Barcelona and ensure Atletico will spend La Liga’s short winter break on top of the table.
Atletico’s 12th straight win in all competitions lifted it three points above Barcelona.
Barcelona has only two wins in its last nine games and could find itself third on Sunday if Real Madrid beats Sevilla.
Simeone, coaching Atletico since 2011, celebrated winning at Barcelona for the first time.
“We finally did it,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak said. “We are playing well, we started poorly but we knew our chances would come. And in the last minute Sørloth came through. Thanks to him we finally won here. He is the striker we needed.”
It was a much more impressive performance from Barcelona, which dominated for long periods and took a deserved lead in the 30th minute.
Pedri started and ended the move, playing a one-two with Gavi, and firing an angled shot into the bottom right corner.
Barcelona Miss Several Big Chances Against Atletico
Raphinha almost doubled Barcelona’s lead in stunning fashion in the 57th when he lobbed the goalkeeper but the ball came off the crossbar. Robert Lewandowski got to the rebound but sent it onto the head of Axel Witsel, who needed treatment.
Barcelona was made to rue its missed opportunities when Atletico levelled just three minutes later, partly thanks to a defensive blunder.
Barcelona midfielder Marc Casadó tried to clear Julián Álvarez’s cross but passed it straight to Rodrigo De Paul, who fired into the bottom right corner. Casadó put his hands to his head and dropped to his knees in dismay.
Worse was to come for Barcelona as, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, Nahuel Molina made a fantastic run to latch onto a through ball and cross in for Sørloth to fire into the back of the net.
It was Sørloth’s eighth goal of the season, five of them after he’s come off the bench.
(With AP Inputs)
Updated 07:38 IST, December 22nd 2024