The Colchoneros robbed the Blaugrana. Atlético de Madrid carried out an incredible hold-up on the pitch of FC Barcelona on Saturday, in the big shock at the top of the 18th day of La Liga (1-2). The Barcelonans largely dominated and opened the scoring through Pedri (30th). However, they suffered the equalizer from Rodrigo de Paul (60th) then the victorious goal from Alexander Sorloth at the last minute on two fatal counter-attacks (90th + 6). The Madrilenians take the leadership position. Even Diego Simeone had trouble believing it.
If the recent form of the two teams was clearly in favor of the Colchoneros, the start of the match proved to be very different. The Blaugrana started the proceedings in a very enterprising manner and stifled their opponents in the first quarter of an hour. The Madrilenians repelled several hot balls in the area from Jan Oblak without succeeding in restarting cleanly and only suffered.
Barça failed to make the break
Pedri, Gavi and Fermin Lopez brought liveliness, technical quality and mobility to a clearly superior Barça. Raphinha created gaps on the right while Robert Lewandowski was a constant danger in the center. If Clément Lenglet, Jose Maria Gimenez and the others held on, Pedri opened the scoring with a breakthrough coming from the left with a nice relay from Gavi before adjusting Oblak (1-0, 30th).
FC Barcelona-Atlético, December 21, 2024.
Credit: Getty Images
Raphinha once again made Javi Galan suffer as much as he could. Connor Gallagher came to the aid of his left-back but above all suffered a small bridge from the Brazilian or a delicious hook from Jules Koundé. Barça, however, eased off slightly instead of trying to punish their opponent, happy to reach the break with a small goal behind without having taken a single shot. At the restart, Oblak won against Fermin and allowed Atlético to maintain hope.
Simeone inspired
Gimenez was injured and had to give way to Axel Witsel (52nd), who struggled to enter the match before getting on level terms in front of a Barça that was still sharp but not realistic enough. Raphinha saw her lob against Oblak end up on the crossbar (57th). De Paul perfectly concluded the counter led by Julian Alvarez on the left and equalized with precision (1-1, 60th). Hansi Flick launched Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo (64th) but the two players did not contribute enough in a last half hour despite being in attack-defense form.
FC Barcelona-Atlético, December 21, 2024.
Credit: Getty Images
Lewandowski, for his part, may regret his incredible missed recovery alone at six meters (76th). Oblak then resisted Raphinha (87th) then Pedri (88th) and Atlético held on. Antoine Griezmann did not weigh at all but the visitors managed to hit the wire with De Paul who put Nahuel Molina into orbit for a cross ideally taken by Sorloth and a goal synonymous with an unexpected victory (1-2, 90th + 6). The Colchoneros finally beat the Blaugrana after five defeats in a row. Once he has achieved this, Simeone will be able to savor and congratulate himself because he launched the passer and the author of the fatal goal during the match. El Cholo wins for the first time at Barça with a style that suits him completely.
