Ferran Torres scores twice as Barcelona come from two right down to beat Atletico Madrid and declare prime spot in LaLiga.
Barcelona battled again from two objectives right down to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 and land an essential 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 sport in hand on the champions, with each side degree on 60 factors, whereas Atletico path the highest two by 4 after they crumbled at residence towards Hansi Flick’s aspect 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 aim in December to give up the lead on the prime of the desk to Atletico in a 2-1 residence defeat.
Barcelona additionally conceded two late objectives within the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg to attract 4-4 towards Diego Simeone’s aspect in February.
They performed inside themselves within the first half, overly cautious and conserving power, failing to create many openings.
Teenage winger Yamal created one for himself however fired broad with Jan Oblak’s aim 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 aim kick, Atletico discovered the opener.
The hosts labored the ball to Griezmann, who threaded an excellent move throughout the realm 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 towards 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 seemed for a manner again in, and Simeone turned to his bench to clean up his aspect who had performed 120 draining minutes towards Los Blancos.
The coach launched Sorloth and Conor Gallagher they usually mixed for Atletico’s second aim.
Atletico put collectively one other high quality crew transfer with Griezmann closely concerned, earlier than Gallagher squared to perennial super-sub Sorloth to web his eleventh league aim of the season, regardless of simply 9 begins.
Barcelona had complaints a couple of Rodrigo De Paul handball within the build-up being dismissed they usually turned their anger into an on the spot response.
Martinez drove ahead with the ball and slung it into the field for Lewandowski, who managed nicely 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 evening within the capital for the Brazilian, crossed from the appropriate.
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 may show decisive come the tip of the season.
