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Atletico had a 2-0 lead in the 70th minute thanks to Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth, but Hansi Flick's side staged a comeback at the Metropolitano.

Ferran Torres scored a brace, with Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal also getting on the scoresheet to send Barcelona to the top of the LaLiga table on 60 points.

Barcelona sits above Real Madrid due to having a better head-to-head record, though has a game in hand over Los Blancos. Atletico sits third on 56 points. 

"We will fight until the end. There are 10 games left and we have to play and win every one of them," Simeone said.

"It's not down to luck. It's down to hard work. I wouldn't put it down to luck. We have to recognise the rival."

Simeone spoke about fatigue after the Champions League defeat to city rivals Madrid, as well as the health of forward Julian Alvarez, whose slip during that match's penalty shootout caused him to touch the ball twice resulting in his goal being disallowed.

Despite that, Alvarez scored the first goal in a LaLiga match for the eighth time this season, with only Lewandowski (nine) doing so on more occasions.

"A few days ago he had a bad stomach, yesterday he had a fever and this morning he had again stomach problems," Simeone said.

"I didn't want to play him, we talked, he was committed and I understood that he had given absolutely everything."

The manager also rued a missed opportunity to change tactics after his team went 2-0 up, indicating a few minutes during which he may have secured a more favourable outcome.

There were just over two minutes separating the goals from Sorloth and Lewandowski, with Torres equalising for the hosts six minutes later.

"In football, those four or five minutes are unforgivable," Simeone said. "At that moment I was pushing to finish the game, the boys were reacting and I just didn't have the time. It was too late."