Atletico Madrid pulled off a dramatic comeback to claim a historic 2-1 victory over Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday, with Alexander Sorloth delivering the decisive goal in the dying moments of the match.
The victory not only took Diego Simeone’s side to the top of the table but also marked his first-ever league win at Barcelona—a feat Atletico Madrid hadn’t achieved in La Liga since 2006.
Despite Barcelona’s dominance for most of the match, particularly in attack, it appeared the Catalans were set to extend Atletico’s long-standing struggles at Camp Nou.
Pedri’s 30th-minute strike seemed to reinforce the notion of Barcelona’s superiority, as Simeone’s team failed to register a single shot during the first half, spending most of it fending off relentless pressure.
Even as the second half unfolded, Atletico looked to be running out of answers, with history looming large over their efforts.
Rodrigo de Paul’s equalizer in the 60th minute, completely against the run of play, offered a glimmer of hope, though Barcelona’s control suggested the lead would soon be restored.
That confidence took a hit when Robert Lewandowski squandered a golden opportunity with 15 minutes left. Sensing a chance, Atletico pushed on, and in the 97th minute, substitute Alexander Sorloth capitalized on a lightning-quick counter-attack to deliver the stunning winner.
The result propelled Atletico Madrid to the summit of La Liga, extending their winning streak to 12 games across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s struggles continued, with just one win in their last seven league outings and back-to-back defeats further complicating their campaign.
