Ferran Torres scores twice as Barcelona come from two all the way down to beat Atletico Madrid and declare prime spot in LaLiga.
Barcelona battled again from two objectives all the way down to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 and land an vital blow within the Spanish title race.
Lamine Yamal struck within the 92nd minute and Ferran Torres within the 98th to assist take the Catalans again to the highest of the desk on Sunday, after Actual Madrid beat Villarreal on Saturday to briefly declare pole place.
Barcelona have a recreation in hand on the champions, with either side stage on 60 factors, whereas Atletico path the highest two by 4 after they crumbled at dwelling in opposition to Hansi Flick’s facet to finish a disastrous week following their Champions League elimination.
Having twice been caught out late by Atletico this season, this time it was Barcelona’s flip to offer the sting within the tail, extending their unbeaten streak to 18 matches throughout all competitions.
Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth put Atletico forward earlier than Robert Lewandowski and Torres hit again for Barca, who went on to win in stoppage time.
Flick chosen Marc Casado in midfield, with Frenkie de Jong not match sufficient to be included within the match-day squad.
The German had warned his gamers to remain centered after they conceded a 96th-minute purpose in December to give up the lead on the prime of the desk to Atletico in a 2-1 dwelling defeat.
Barcelona additionally conceded two late objectives within the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg to attract 4-4 in opposition to Diego Simeone’s facet in February.
They performed inside themselves within the first half, overly cautious and conserving vitality, failing to create many openings.
Teenage winger Yamal created one for himself however fired extensive with Jan Oblak’s purpose gaping, whereas Lewandowski directed a header on the Slovenian stopper.
On the different finish, Atletico needed a penalty when Inigo Martinez pulled again Marcos Llorente within the space, however they weren’t given it.
Barcelona’s finest probability of the primary half got here when Pedri performed in Lewandowski, who hit the highest of the crossbar with a robust drive. From the ensuing purpose kick, Atletico discovered the opener.
The hosts labored the ball to Griezmann, who threaded a superb go throughout the world to Giuliano Simeone, with Alvarez ending from his cut-back.
It offered a second of pleasure for the previous Manchester Metropolis striker who felt deep frustration in midweek when his penalty in opposition to Actual Madrid was controversially disallowed for a supposed double contact on the ball, as Atletico have been eradicated within the Champions League final 16 on Wednesday.
Yamal probed after the break as Barca regarded for a approach again in, and Simeone turned to his bench to clean up his facet who had performed 120 draining minutes in opposition to Los Blancos.
The coach launched Sorloth and Conor Gallagher and so they mixed for Atletico’s second purpose.
Atletico put collectively one other high quality group transfer with Griezmann closely concerned, earlier than Gallagher squared to perennial super-sub Sorloth to web his eleventh league purpose of the season, regardless of simply 9 begins.
Barcelona had complaints a few Rodrigo De Paul handball within the build-up being dismissed and so they turned their anger into an immediate response.
Martinez drove ahead with the ball and slung it into the field for Lewandowski, who managed properly and powered a low end previous Oblak to spark the comeback.
Substitute Torres netted the equaliser when Raphinha, on an in any other case quiet night time within the capital for the Brazilian, crossed from the correct.
With Atletico shaken, Barcelona took full benefit, with Yamal’s deflected shot from distance sending them forward in stoppage time.
Torres bagged his second late on to spherical off a win which might show decisive come the tip of the season.
