Barcelona come back at Atletico Madrid to claim LaLiga top spot

Barcelona came back from two goals down to defeat Atletico Madrid 4-2 to give the Spanish title race a significant blow.

After Real Madrid defeated Villarreal on Saturday to briefly take the lead, Real Madrid won by Lamine Yamal in the 92nd minute and won by Ferran Torres in the 98th to regain control of the table on Sunday.

Atletico are in the lead by four points after falling to Hansi Flick’s side at home to end a terrible week following their Champions League elimination, while Barcelona are level on 60 points with both teams.

After being let down by Atletico late once this year, Barcelona’s turn was to give the game’s end, extending their unbeaten streak to 18 matches total.

Atletico was ahead before Robert Lewandowski and Torres fought back for Barca, who won in stoppage time thanks to Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth.

Frenkie de Jong wasn’t fit enough to be a part of the match-day squad, so Flick chose Marc Casado to play midfield.

After conceding a 96th-minute goal in December, the German had instructed his players to remain focused in a 2-1 home defeat to Atletico.

In the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg, Barcelona drew 4-4 with Diego Simeone’s side in February, despite conceding two late goals.

In the first half, they overreacted and focused on themselves, failing to make many openings.

Yamal, a teenager winger, made a goal for himself, but it went wide with Jan Oblak’s gaping goal, and Lewandowski headed the Slovenian stopper in the direction.

When Inigo Martinez pulled Marcos Llorente back in the area, Atletico wanted a penalty, but they were denied it.

Lewandowski hit the crossbar with a powerful drive, and Barcelona had the best chance of winning the opening half. Atletico found the opener from the subsequent goal kick.

The hosts worked the ball to Griezmann, who snared a brilliant pass to Giuliano Simeone to finish off the play from his cut-back.

The former Manchester City striker, who was deeply irritated in midweek when his penalty against Real Madrid was allegedly allowed to play twice, was given a moment of joy as Atletico were knocked out of the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.

After the break, Yamal probed as Barca searched for a way back in, and Simeone turned to his bench to start his side, who had lasted 120 frustrating minutes against Los Blancos.

Sorloth and Conor Gallagher were introduced by the coach, who combined for Atletico’s second goal.

Despite only nine starts, Gallagher squared off to perennial super-sub Sorloth to score his 11th league goal of the season. Atletico made another excellent team move with Griezmann heavily involved.

Barcelona expressed disapproval of a Rodrigo De Paul handball in the build-up after being complained of, and they immediately reacted.

Lewandowski, who had the ball well controlled and fired a low finish past Oblak, led the comeback, who was then slung it forward with the ball.

When Raphinha crossed from the right on a otherwise quiet night in the capital for the Brazilian, substitute Torres equalized.

Barcelona took full advantage of Atletico’s shaken situation when Yamal’s deflected shot from close range propelled them ahead in stoppage time.

Torres’ late goal gave up his second, which could be crucial for the season’s conclusion.