FC Barcelona had a real tough game in Madrid. Hansi Flick‘s side visited the Metropolitano to face Atlético de Madrid, in a fierce fight for the league title. The two teams were meeting for the third time this season after an exciting 4-4 draw in their last direct confrontation. LaLiga leadership was at stake and a new battle for the title was coming up.
It was another goal fest between Barça and Atlético de Madrid. The Catalans paid back Simone’s men in kind. The Rojiblancos came from behind in the Copa del Rey in added time and Hansi Flick’s men did the same at the Metropolitano in a black week for the Colchoneros. Of course, in the case of the Azulgranas, the comeback earned them a win and three points to take the lead.
Lamine hits the post, the most attractive moment of the first half
Atletico were the first to kick off and tried their luck with a first approach from Giuliano Simeone, whose shot went way over. Atletico started ambitiously against a Barça side that also wanted to press high up the pitch. As the minutes went by, Simeone’s men took a step back and tried to contain the Barça team.
Soon Lamine Yamal, who had Reinildo glued to him, started to get up to his tricks, smashing the ball against the post. Dani Olmo played a ball in behind the Barcelona young winger’s area, but his left-footed shot in his one-on-one with Oblak touched the left post. Barça were dominating the game against an Atlético that was going on the counter as best they could.
In the 17th minute, Atlético came close from a set piece with a corner forced by Julián Álvarez. The move ended with a Barça counterattack that Raphinha was unable to finish inside the opposition area. The minutes passed at the Metropolitano without any great chances in either area. It was a tense match, with fouls and protests, with an exchange of control, but without punch up front.
The excitement came at the end
Slow pace, with Atleti proposing little and only seeming to know how to stop Lamine Yamal with a foul. This match was very different from the Copa del Rey semi-final at Montjuic. When it seemed that the scoreboard would not move, the excitement came at the end of the first act. First Lewandowski hit the crossbar. The Pole’s left-footed shot from a tight angle hit the crossbar after a through pass from Pedri.
And the cliché was fulfilled, from almost 0-1 to 1-0 in the Colchoneros’ reply. The protagonist of the controversial penalty in the Champions League against Real Madrid, Julián Álvarez, put the first on the scoreboard. What a ball Griezmann put in to find Giuliano Simeone in the area, who provided the killer pass for ‘la Araña’ to sign off with a great finish, beating Szczesny.
Sorloth makes it two
The start of the second half began with pace and chances. First Lamine. A combination of the Barcelona winger and Dani Olmo, ending with a shot from the edge of the area that went very close to the right-hand post. In the reply, Julián Álvarez hit the crossbar. ‘The Spider’ looked for the goal of the night, sending the corner kick against the same crossbar.
Barça were imprecise and found it difficult to find a way through the Atleti defense. Pedri was certainly a long way from the excellence he has shown in the last two months. With this scenario, Atleti would make the second. Griezmann entered the area, finishing with a back pass to find Sorloth, who beat Szczesny with a left-footed shot.
Barça turn the comeback on Atleti
Immediate reaction from Barcelona. Iñigo Martínez crossed the ball down with his chest to Lewandowski, who shot with his left foot after going to the ground, just enough to beat Oblak and reduce the deficit. Recalling the cup match, Barça paid Atleti back in kind by coming back from 0-2 down in a few minutes. A tense cross from Raphinha was deflected by Ferran Torres after a great run, beating Oblak and equalizing.
Shortly afterwards, Sorloth missed a one-on-one. In front of Szczesny, his left-footed shot went wide of the goal. He had the chance to make it 3-2. The game entered its final minutes very open and with Barça on the attack. However, the one who could have made it three was Sorloth, who slipped at the most inopportune moment.
Barça take the win in injury time
In injury time, Lamine Yamal appeared to maintain Barça’s unbeaten streak, which dealt a blow to LaLiga and kept them in the lead. Lamine Yamal’s shot from outside the area was deflected by Reinildo, surprising Oblak and ending up in the goal. What a comeback by Hansi Flick’s team. The comeback would not end there as Ferran Torres would make it four, his second of the game. Atlético came out with the ball under control, Le Normand played a short pass, Barrios got his foot on it but Raphinha got a stronger touch, ‘The Shark’ kept it alive and he finished low and hard to blow the game wide open.