Barcelona 1-2 Atletico Madrid: Late Sorloth winner sees Atleti complete dramatic comeback win over Barca

Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid concluded a streak of five consecutive defeats in head-to-head encounters against Barcelona in LaLiga with a dramatic 2-1 victory, temporarily securing the top position in the league table.

Following an unexpected home loss to CD Leganés the previous weekend, Barcelona recognized the necessity for a strong response against their formidable opponents.

Hansi Flick's squad began the match aggressively, with Robert Lewandowski missing an early header that went over the bar, while Iñigo Martínez's weak attempt was easily saved by Jan Oblak.

As the first half progressed, the hosts maintained their dominance, and their efforts were rewarded at the 30-minute mark. Gavi's skillful maneuver at the edge of the penalty area allowed Pedri to break through on goal, and the Spanish midfielder remained composed, placing the ball accurately into the far corner.

With the momentum on their side, Barcelona sought to secure a quick second goal before the interval; however, Raphinha's long-range attempt was blocked, allowing Atlético to keep the scoreline at a single goal deficit.

The initial moments of the second half mirrored the first, with Fermín López's sharp low shot being expertly saved by Oblak.

The one-sided nature of the match continued, as Raphinha unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box that struck the crossbar.

Taking advantage of this fortunate escape, the visitors equalized in the 60th minute when Rodrigo de Paul seized a loose ball from 20 yards out and curled a perfectly placed shot into the bottom corner, beyond the reach of Iñaki Peña.

As the match entered the final 20 minutes with the score delicately balanced, both teams intensified their efforts to secure a crucial victory. Pablo Barrios attempted a low shot that was expertly saved by Peña, while Oblak made a vital intervention for the visitors, thwarting attempts from Raphinha and Pedri in rapid succession.

These missed opportunities proved detrimental, as Atlético managed to clinch a dramatic winner under extraordinary circumstances. Substitute Sørloth executed a brilliant finish from Nahuel Molina’s cross in the sixth minute of stoppage time, granting Simeone his first away league victory in this head-to-head matchup and propelling the visitors three points ahead at the top of the table.

SportsLigue