Barcelona staged a superb second-half comeback to secure a vital 3-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in a gripping La Liga encounter at Camp Nou on Tuesday night. The win extends the champions' lead at the summit and halts Atlético's impressive winning streak.
Atleti Strike First Before Raphinha Responds
The visitors, arriving in Catalonia on the back of a seven-game winning run across all competitions, took a surprise lead. Álex Baena broke the deadlock in the 19th minute, finishing clinically on the counter-attack to stun the home crowd.
Barcelona's response was swift and decisive. Just seven minutes later, the electrifying Raphinha restored parity. The Brazilian winger finished from close range after being played through by a sublime, defence-splitting pass from midfielder Pedri.
Second-Half Pressure Seals the Points
The match remained finely poised after the interval, but Barcelona's relentless pressure eventually told. The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Dani Olmo pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area, driving a low shot into the net to put the hosts ahead.
With Atlético pushing for an equaliser, Barcelona sealed the three points in the dying moments of added time. Ferran Torres completed a swift counter-attack, applying a cool finish to make the scoreline 3-1 and wrap up a significant victory.
La Liga Table Implications
The result has major consequences for the La Liga title race. Barcelona now sit on 37 points, moving four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who play on Wednesday. This was Atlético Madrid's first league defeat since August, and they remain in fourth position with 31 points.
The intensity and quality of the clash underlined why this fixture is one of Spain's most anticipated, with Barcelona demonstrating the resilience required of potential champions.
