Atletico Madrid snatch late win at Barcelona to top La Liga

BARCELONA: Atletico Madrid came from behind to snatch a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Barcelona and claim leadership of La Liga on Saturday.

Pedri sent the Catalans ahead but second-half goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Alexander Sorloth helped Diego Simeone´s side move three points clear at the top of the table, having played one match fewer than Barca.

Hansi Flick´s side dominated at the Olympic stadium but Atletico clung on before claiming a 12th consecutive victory across all competitions with Sorloth´s stoppage-time strike. Barcelona started the season in superb form but have stumbled in recent weeks and have now won just one of their last seven league games.

This was their third consecutive home league defeat, their worst such run since 1987, while it was also Simeone´s first ever away triumph against Barcelona in La Liga. “It´s inexplicable... we had the game in our hands and we didn´t take advantage,” said Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi.

Champions Real Madrid face Sevilla on Sunday and can also move ahead of Barcelona with a victory. “It´s truly a tough defeat to take, when you don´t finish a game, this is what can happen,” Pedri told Movistar.

“We have the break now to reset mentally and physically.” Barcelona, missing injured teenage star Lamine Yamal, controlled the first half and suffocated Atletico with their press.

“We will fight for everything, we will fight for every point to win this (league),” insisted Flick, who said he was pleased with the performance despite the result. “This is how we want to play in the future, so we will take this and bring it with us to next year.”

Barcelona took the lead after 30 minutes with Pedri both the architect and scorer of the goal. The Spain midfielder burst forward with the ball and fed Gavi, who tried to turn and inadvertently nudged the ball back to the surging Pedri, who entered the box and slotted past Oblak. Barcelona should have doubled their lead early in the second half, with Fermin Lopez denied by Oblak´s legs before Raphinha hit the crossbar.