Barcelona came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 3-1, moving four points clear at the top of La Liga with a vital win over a title rival
BARCELONA produced an impressive comeback to beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 and move four points clear at the top of La Liga.
Alex Baena fired Atletico ahead but Raphinha equalised for the champions before Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres scored to end the visitors’ run of 13 straight league games without defeat.
Barca might have been more comfortable had Robert Lewandowski not ballooned a first-half penalty over the bar at the partially rebuilt Camp Nou.
This was Barca’s fifth consecutive Liga win after losing the Clasico against Madrid in October.
“This is the spirit we need to have to turn around games like this,” Raphinha told Movistar.
“We’re building confidence game by game, and these three points are going to be vital for the end of the season, they can decide a title race.”
Barcelona responded rapidly to Atletico’s opener and levelled in the 26th minute when Pedri played in Raphinha.
The Brazilian winger took the ball around Jan Oblak and slid it into the empty net.
Olmo, who netted twice at the weekend, sent Barcelona ahead with a slick finish after Lewandowski managed to bundle the ball into his path.
The playmaker sustained a shoulder injury falling as he shot and was replaced by Marcus Rashford.
Pedri, who was controlling the game, also went down hurt after 70 minutes and was replaced by coach Hansi Flick.
Atletico substitute Thiago Almada had his team’s best chance of equalising but screwed his finish wide.
Oblak saved from Rashford in stoppage time before Alejandro Balde found Torres to cap Barca’s win.
“Barca were superior,” Oblak told Movistar.
“We had a couple of chances to equalise and in the last second they scored the third. Barca had a great game, they had chances.” – AFP
