Barcelona’s Stunning Comeback Shatters Atletico’s Title Hopes

Atletico Madrid’s LaLiga title dreams took a massive hit as they blew a two-goal lead in a dramatic 4-2 defeat to Barcelona. A win would have secured their first league double over Barça since 2005/06, but instead, they suffered a heartbreaking collapse at the Metropolitano.

Fresh off their controversial Champions League exit to Real Madrid, Atleti started cautiously while Barcelona dominated early possession. Lamine Yamal nearly put the visitors ahead within five minutes, but his effort clipped the outside of Jan Oblak’s post. Despite Barça’s control, Atleti struck first just before halftime. Antoine Griezmann’s crossfield ball found Giuliano Simeone, who teed up Julián Álvarez for a clinical finish—his 23rd goal of the season.

Barça pushed for an equalizer after the break, but Atleti doubled their lead on 70 minutes. Griezmann dispossessed Eric García, launching a counterattack that ended with Conor Gallagher setting up Alexander Sørloth for a cool finish.

However, controversy erupted as Barcelona protested a possible Rodrigo De Paul handball before the goal. Fired up, they responded immediately—Íñigo Martínez crossed for Robert Lewandowski, who controlled superbly before drilling a shot past Oblak.

The comeback gained momentum when Raphinha’s pinpoint cross found Ferran Torres, who buried his header to level the score. Then, in the 92nd minute, Yamal’s long-range strike deflected off Reinildo, wrong-footing Oblak and sending Barça into the lead. Moments later, Torres struck again, sealing an astonishing turnaround.

The stunning defeat ended Atleti’s unbeaten home league record this season, while Barcelona surged past Real Madrid to claim the top spot. Next up, they face Girona, looking to build on this thrilling victory.