Atlético Madrid defeated FC Barcelona 2-1 in the 18th round of La Liga, with goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Alexander Sorloth for Atlético. Pedri scored for Barcelona.

In an emotional clash, Atlético de Madrid stunned FC Barcelona with a last-minute comeback (1-2) in Matchday 18 of LaLiga. The winning goal came in the 96th minute from Alexander Sorloth, who capitalized on a counterattack to give the Colchoneros their twelfth consecutive win, while also snatching the top spot in the league from Barça, who now sit in second place.

Barcelona's Dominance and Football’s Justice

From the start, FC Barcelona dominated the game, with Pedri pulling the strings in midfield and a fluid style of play creating several clear chances. The pressure from Raphinha and his crosses for Lewandowski continuously troubled the Atlético defense, who struggled to maintain possession. In the 30th minute, Barcelona's dominance paid off when Pedri combined with Gavi and scored the opening goal with a precise cross-shot.

Despite Barcelona’s control, Atlético stayed afloat thanks to Jan Oblak's key interventions and Barcelona’s inability to capitalize on important moments. The team led by Xabi Flick failed to make the most of their superiority, missing clear chances such as Raphinha's crossbar or Fermín’s missed one-on-one opportunity.

Atlético's Comeback

The second half began with more opportunities for Barça, but it was Atlético who took their first clear chance in the 61st minute. A pass from Julián Álvarez to Rodrigo De Paul, who curled in a stunning goal from outside the box, equalized the score. Although Barcelona tried to regain control with the introduction of Dani Olmo, their chances continued to be squandered.

In the final minutes, Oblak kept his team alive with key saves against Olmo, Raphinha, and Pedri. However, football had one last surprise in store: in the 96th minute, Raphinha lost possession of the ball, and Atlético launched a deadly counterattack, which Sorloth finished off to score the winner, sending the Atlético bench into a frenzy.

A Bitter End for Barcelona

Atlético de Madrid took the three points and now leads LaLiga with 41 points, while FC Barcelona drops to second place with 38 points. The Blaugrana end the year on a sour note, having earned only five points from their last seven matches after having a substantial lead at the top of the table.

With this result, Atlético Madrid climbs to the top of La Liga, taking the first spot from Barcelona with 41 points, while Barcelona drops to second with 38 points.