Atletico Madrid got here from behind to grab a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Barcelona and declare management of La Liga on Saturday. Pedri despatched the Catalans forward however second-half objectives from Rodrigo De Paul and Alexander Sorloth helped Diego Simeone’s facet transfer three factors clear on the prime of the desk, having performed one match fewer than Barca. Hansi Flick’s facet dominated on the Olympic stadium however Atletico clung on earlier than claiming a twelfth consecutive victory throughout all competitions with Sorloth’s stoppage-time strike.
Barcelona began the season in very good kind however have stumbled in current weeks and have now received simply one among their final seven league video games.
This was their third consecutive house league defeat, their worst such run since 1987, whereas it was additionally Simeone’s first ever away triumph in opposition to Barcelona in La Liga.
“It’s inexplicable… we had the sport in our palms and we did not take benefit,” mentioned Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi.
Champions Real Madrid face Sevilla on Sunday and can even transfer forward of Barcelona with a victory.
“It’s really a tricky defeat to take, when you do not end a recreation, that is what can occur,” Pedri informed Movistar.
“We have the break now to reset mentally and bodily.”
Barcelona, lacking injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, managed the primary half and suffocated Atletico with their press.
“We will combat for the whole lot, we are going to combat for each level to win this (league),” insisted Flick, who mentioned he was happy with the efficiency regardless of the end result.
“This is how we wish to play sooner or later, so we are going to take this and convey it with us to subsequent 12 months.”
Barcelona took the lead after half-hour with Pedri each the architect and scorer of the aim.
The Spain midfielder burst ahead with the ball and fed Gavi, who tried to show and inadvertently nudged the ball again to the surging Pedri, who entered the field and slotted previous Oblak.
– ‘We resisted’ –
Barcelona ought to have doubled their lead early within the second half, with Fermin Lopez denied by Oblak’s legs earlier than Raphinha hit the crossbar.
Pedri performed within the Brazilian winger with a fantastic go excessive and Raphinha lofted the ball over the goalkeeper however it struck the woodwork on its means down.
Moments later Atletico had been stage, with Marc Casado’s misguided backheel clearance falling to De Paul on the sting of the world.
The in-form Argentine midfielder completed with a agency low effort into the underside nook for his third aim in his final 4 league video games.
In the ultimate levels each groups tried to grab a winner, with La Liga’s prime goalscorer Robert Lewandowski lacking from point-blank vary, though Ferran Torres appeared offside within the build-up.
At the opposite finish Inaki Pena made a fantastic save to maintain Pablo Barrios at bay, whereas Oblak saved from Raphinha after one other very good Pedri ball.
The excellent Canarian midfielder had an opportunity to attain himself however Oblak once more proved too onerous to beat, and his efforts didn’t go unrewarded.
Deep in stoppage time Nahuel Molina crossed for normal super-sub Sorloth to blast house and guarantee Atletico will probably be prime of the pile at Christmas.
“We’d by no means received at Barcelona since I arrived, eventually we have finished it,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak informed Movistar.
“We suffered lots, we began badly… however we’re in excellent kind, we resisted, and after going a aim down we knew how you can bear it out with out letting within the second.”
This season Atletico have scored within the ninetieth minute or past in 13 video games throughout all competitions, with their substitutes and squad depth key.
Sorloth has began simply seven video games within the league for Atletico however is the workforce’s prime goalscorer with eight strikes.
“I spoke to (Sorloth) three or 4 weeks in the past, explaining the concept I had… his 20, 30 or 40 minutes are extraordinary,” mentioned Simeone.
Earlier Athletic Bilbao beat Osasuna 2-1 to tighten their grip on fourth place.
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