Mar 16, 2025, 07:15 PM ET
MADRID — Barcelona delivered a sensational 4-2 comeback win over name competitors Atlético Madrid on Sunday, to move most sensible of the LaLiga desk.
Julián Álvarez put Atlético forward within the forty fifth minute on the Metropolitano — completing off a sweeping transfer involving Antoine Griezmann and Giuliano Simeone — sooner than exchange Alexander Sørloth doubled the hosts’ lead, changing Conor Gallagher’s move.
Barça spoke back with two targets in six mins from Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, sooner than a dramatic, 92nd-minute strike from Lamine Yamal — his shot from distance deflecting off defender Reinildo Mandava — put them in entrance, sooner than Torres added a 2nd past due on.
The end result catapults Barcelona to the highest of the desk on 60 issues, degree with Actual Madrid, with a sport in hand. Atlético are 4 issues in the back of the pair, and beneath force after two stinging disappointments in 4 days following their heartbreaking UEFA Champions League go out midweek. — Alex Kirkland
Barça comeback moves name blow
It’s essential really feel the importance of Barça’s stoppage-time targets within the avid gamers’ celebrations at the pitch.
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Yamal peeled his blouse off after his 92nd-minute deflected effort noticed Barça come from two down to steer for the primary time within the sport. When Torres added the fourth moments later, the substitutes poured directly to the pitch.
When those two groups met remaining month within the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg, Barça had come from 2-0 down to steer 4-2. That sport ended 4-4. There used to be to be no such past due ache for Hansi Flick’s facet on Sunday.
It had now not been a antique Barça efficiency for enormous portions of the night. Yamal and Lewandowski each hit the woodwork within the first part, lacking Barça’s best possible possibilities, and neither Pedri nor Raphinha may just in point of fact get going. Iñigo Martínez used to be too deep for each Atlético targets, taking part in Gallagher and Griezmann onside respectively, and at 2-0 it gave the look of Barça have been the group who had performed 120 mins plus consequences in opposition to Actual Madrid on Wednesday.
However Flick’s Barça are as have compatibility as any group within the league and there’s a spirit rising a few of the avid gamers; a trust, too. That trust used to be fuelled via an excellent Lewandowski objective to get them again within the sport. Torres then drew them degree off the bench, connecting with a fizzed Raphinha move. And simply when it gave the look of a draw used to be coming, Yamal’s effort looped in, and Torres added the fourth with Atleti out on their ft. It felt like an enormous evening within the name race. — Sam Marsden
Álvarez shrugs off penalty drama to strike first
Two touches from Álvarez despatched Atlético Madrid crashing out of the Champions League in midweek. On Sunday, one unerring end from the similar participant put Atlético — quickly — proper again within the LaLiga name race.
Álvarez’s undesirable function in Wednesday’s penalty shootout drama — slipping as he stepped as much as take his spot kick, with the faintest of unintentional touches along with his status foot seeing the penalty disallowed — used to be desperately unlucky, an anomaly in an impressive debut season on the Metropolitano. Right here, it used to be trade as standard.
After a gentle get started, Álvarez has develop into a fixture in trainer Diego Simeone’s beginning XI and already has 23 targets in all competitions. Atlético in finding themselves on this place — difficult for the name, within the Copa del Rey semifinals, and most effective simply, cruelly eradicated in Europe — in large part on account of the affect the previous Manchester Town has made within the assault. Álvarez’s objective within the forty fifth minute used to be a slick, completely done group transfer, Griezmann crossing for Giuliano Simeone, who made a tricky, however proper name in pulling again for Álvarez, somewhat than taking pictures himself. Álvarez used to be by no means going to omit.
He used to be later withdrawn after an hour, his process executed, changed — as is ceaselessly the case — via Sørloth for the remaining half-hour. Sørloth is an overly other more or less ahead, however similarly precious to Diego Simeone, as he confirmed completing off every other scientific Atlético counterattack to make it 2-0. — Kirkland
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Lamine Yamal reacts to Barcelona’s comeback win vs. Atletico Madrid
Lamine Yamal joins ESPN FC to react to Barcelona’s 4-2 win in opposition to Atletico Madrid.
Flick subs earn win, display Atlético classes realized
It used to be déjà vu as exchange Sørloth netted Atlético’s 2nd. The Norway striker scored a past due winner within the corresponding fixture on the Olympic Stadium in December and likewise netted within the Copa comeback remaining month.
On the other hand, Flick’s substitutes had the general say this time.
Now not most effective did Torres internet two times after approaching, however the German tactician additionally confirmed that he had realized from the ones Atlético past due displays. Defenders Ronald Araújo and Gerard Martín got here on to give protection to Barça in opposition to the house facet’s counter-attack at 2-2.
The irony is that, this time, as Flick took on board earlier failings in opposition to Diego Simeone’s facet, putting in reasonably extra in favour of now not shedding than profitable, his facet did in the end get the easier of Atlético.
There may be nonetheless a fourth, exhilarating bankruptcy to return. Barça are again on the Metropolitano originally of April for the Copa semifinal 2nd leg. — Marsden
Atlético compete, however in the end fall quick once more
This defeat does not finish Atlético Madrid’s season. They are most effective 4 issues in the back of Barcelona and Actual Madrid with 10 video games left and, judging via the season to this point, there is quite a lot of room for extra twists and turns within the name race. They’ve a Copa del Rey semifinal 2nd leg in opposition to Barça to return, with the tie degree at 4-4.
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However this loss, coming so quickly after being knocked out of the Champions League via Actual, may just ship Atlético right into a tailspin from which it could turn out tough to get better. The disgruntlement at being overwhelmed on consequences via Actual Madrid used to be profound, exacerbated via the sensation of injustice at the way it came about.
Having a a very powerful, title-race impacting sport in opposition to Barça simply 4 days later used to be a ways from very best. It used to be laborious to consider how Atlético would pick out themselves up, bodily and emotionally, and have the ability to compete right here for 90 mins.
However compete they did. Barça ruled early on, however Atlético quickly wrested keep an eye on of the sport clear of the guests, going forward thru Álvarez, and doubling their lead due to Sørloth. Even if Barcelona had levelled the sport at 2-2, all did not glance misplaced. Atlético did not cave in immediately, proceeding to search for a 3rd objective, with Sørloth going shut — flagged offside — after which Nahuel Molina getting into in the back of the defence at the proper. A 2-2 ultimate ranking would had been fantastic, giving Atlético hope, one thing to hold onto.
However it did not finish there. Barça’s two targets in added time, with Atlético’s legs tiring, intended extra past due heartbreak at this stadium. It will not do any harm up to the Champions League removal to their sour competitors — not anything would — nevertheless it provides to the sensation that Atlético’s season is now spiraling out of keep an eye on in its maximum decisive section. That Copa del Rey semifinal 2nd leg on April 2 feels much more necessary now. — Kirkland
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Are Atletico out of the LaLiga name race after Barcelona’s past due win?
Luis García and Sid Lowe react to Atletico Madrid’s 4-2 loss to Barcelona in LaLiga.
LaLiga’s newest twist
Barça are firmly within the field seat, however it is nonetheless so tight. They’re locked on 60 issues with Actual on the most sensible of the LaLiga desk, who’ve 10 video games to play. Barça have 11 to move because of remaining weekend’s sport in opposition to Osasuna being postponed.
Atlético are 4 issues in the back of the Clásico competitors, however they’ve performed Barça and Madrid two times now. That would give them hope as Barça host Madrid in Would possibly. Simeone’s facet will also be the more energizing of the 3 groups and not using a extra Champions League video games to put on them down.
But even so, the way in which the marketing campaign has long gone suggests there might be extra twists and turns. All 3 facets have fumbled the lead at other phases of the season. Casting ahead, the general matchday of the season might be a very powerful: Actual Madrid host Actual Sociedad, Atlético head to Girona, and Barcelona is also desiring to get all 3 issues away in opposition to Athletic Membership at San Mamés. — Marsden
