Barcelona pulled off an incredible late comeback to defeat Atletico Madrid 4-2, keeping their position at the top of La Liga. The dramatic turnaround saw Hansi Flick’s team score four times in the final 20 minutes, overturning a two-goal deficit at the Civitas Metropolitano.
Barcelona came into the match in strong form, having taken 19 out of a possible 21 points in the second half of the season. They had not lost a match since falling 2-1 to Atletico in the first half of the campaign. A victory in this fixture meant Barcelona would go level on points with Real Madrid, who had played one more game, and they managed to achieve just that—though it required a remarkable late surge.
The first half was tense, with both teams playing cautiously, knowing that any mistake could be costly. However, the game came alive just before halftime when Julian Alvarez finished off a swift Atletico attack to give the home side the lead.
Barcelona pushed for an equalizer early in the second half, but it was Atletico who struck again. Substitutes Alexander Sorloth and Conor Gallagher combined for the second goal, with Sorloth finishing off a well-executed counterattack. At that point, Atletico seemed to be heading for victory.
However, Barcelona refused to give up. Just two minutes later, Robert Lewandowski, the league’s top scorer, found the net for his 22nd goal of the season, giving his team a lifeline. The momentum quickly shifted, and six minutes later, Barcelona was level. Raphinha sent in a perfectly placed cross, and Ferran Torres, another substitute, rose highest to head in the equalizer.
With the match seemingly headed for a draw, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal made the difference in stoppage time. His shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off Reinildo and found the back of the net, sending Barcelona fans into celebration.
To cap off the stunning comeback, Torres struck again in the final moments, securing all three points for Barcelona.
The win keeps Barcelona at the top of La Liga with 60 points, tied with Real Madrid but ahead on goal difference. Atletico Madrid, now trailing behind in third place, remains four points adrift with 56.
