Atlético Madrid 2-4 FC Barcelona: What a turaround!

What a turnaround at the Metropolitano! FC Barcelona were 2-0 down, a result that would not only have been a major setback in the league title bid, but would also allowed a direct rival to get right back into the mix.

But all's well that ends well!

An evening that was heading worryingly towards a disappointing ending wound up being one of utter jubilation. Barça not only managed to pull level but went on to win 4-2, the last two goals both coming in second half injury time.

The way in which it happened make it especially sweet, and what it means is that Barça stay top of the Liga table, and with a game in hand as well, and have managed to put some important breathing space between themselves and today's opponent, Atlético Madrid.

Atlético strike first

All that late drama was in stark contrast to the rather uneventful first half, which was on the point of ending without score before Atlético stole the lead on 45 minutes. Julian Alvarez, the most talked-about man in football following his disallowed penalty in the Champions League, finished off a quick series of clever passes among the home attack to leave Barça frustrated.

Until then, chances had been scarce at both ends. Barça, without Frenkie de Jong, who was feeling unwell in the build-up, had probably done more than their hosts to deserve the lead. That slight edge could have been converted into goals, but both Lamine Yamal early on and Robert Lewandowski with a header saw their efforts go wide.

Deeper trouble

If anybody likes his teams to sit back and defend their leads, that man is Diego Simeone. Predictably, his troops withdrew to the rearguard, but Atlético’s lethal counter attack is always a threat and not for the first time this season, Barça were punished by an Alexander Sørloth finish.

The blaugrana protests over a handball went unheeded, but the ball was barely back in motion before the 2-0 deficit was cut to 2-1.

The comeback begins

Iñigo Martinez supplied the initial ball, and what a finish from Lewandowski! The Pole deftly brought the ball down with his chest and then fired past Jan Oblak with an exquisite turn-and-shoot.

The goal revitalised the Catalans, and just six minutes later they were back level. Raphinha whipped in the ball and moments after coming on as a substitute, Ferran Torres did the rest with his head.

Barça were back from nowhere, and an originally somewhat grey game was now shining in glorious technicolour. A draw was not an outcome that either side found particularly attractive.

Atlético were still pegged back in their own half but now it was not so much because they wanted to as because Barça were forcing them into doing so.

Victory in injury time

And with regulation time already up, bang! Lamine Yamal struck from the edge of the area and his shot had the fortune of deflecting off Reinildo’s chest, confounding Oblak as the ball hurtled into the back of the net!

From 2-0 down, Barça had produced another magnificent comeback to lead 3-2.

And that wasn’t the end of it. While Atlético were desperately trying to salvage something from the wreckage, in the dying seconds of injury time, Ferran Torres delivered the killer blow.

A 4-2 win and an absolutely gigantic leap forward in Barça’s bid to win the 2024/25 Liga title!