Three talking points from Atletico Madrid 2-4 Barcelona

Barcelona gain revenge with their own late show

Barcelona and Atletico met for the third time this season on Sunday night and served up another epic game that featured six goals and more late drama.

Hansi Flick’s side conceded a 96th minute winner to Atletico in the league back in December and also conceded two late goals in the 4-4 Copa del Rey draw.

Both of those results left Barca feeling extremely hard done by, but on Sunday it was the Catalans who gained revenge with a comeback win for the ages featuring two stoppage-time strikes.

| Incredible comeback by Barcelona!

• xG: 1.36 – 1.26

• Shots (on target): 7 (2) – 13 (6)

• Big chances: 2 – 5

• Touches in pen. area: 22 – 27

• Possession: 34% – 66%

Barça win their 7th LaLiga match in a row, despite being 2–0 down in the 70th minute! #AtletiBarca pic.twitter.com/Kbn9AIyE8W — Sofascore Football (@SofascoreINT) March 16, 2025

Goals from Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres looked to have salvaged an unlikely draw for Barca. Yet it got even better when Lamine Yamal made it 3-2 and Ferran Torres - a bona fide super sub now - grabbed another just to make absolutely sure.

Yamal said the comeback was fuelled by “anger,” Hansi Flick hailed his team’s “mentality,” while Gavi and Co celebrated by splashing about in the locker room.

Atletico’s midweek exploits in the Champions League probably played a part too but Diego Simeone was gracious afterwards and praised Barcelona.

“It’s down to hard work. I wouldn’t put it down to luck. We have to recognize the rival,” he said.

All over for Atletico?

The defeat is certainly bad news for Atletico as Barcelona head into the international break top of the pile and with a game in hand on both Simeone’s side and Real Madrid.

It’s a great place for Barca to be but ends a really tough week for Atletico. Simeone’s men suffered Champions League heartbreak in midweek and now sit four points off the top.

If Barca win their game in hand against Osasuna that gap will be seven points and potentially all over for Los Colchoneros.

STANDINGS | Here's how the #LALIGAEASPORTS table looks after Matchday 28. pic.twitter.com/XZ5J0J4S3G — LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) March 16, 2025

Meanwhile, belief seems to be growing at Barcelona that they can go on and win La Liga after a rollercoaster few months where they’ve lost top spot and then surged back to the summit.

“It’s a long, long way but it’s a big three points. We’re top of the table again, with one match less, it’s a really good feeling,” said Flick afterwards.

A good feeling that may get even better if Barca beat Osasuna in their rescheduled match before the end of the international break.

Lessons to be learned for Barca

Barcelona did appear to have learned some lessons from their previous games against Atletico but there’s still plenty more to think about ahead of the Copa del Rey second leg when the two teams meet yet again.

The sight of Hansi Flick sending on Ronald Araújo and Gerard Martín after Barca had made it 2-2 suggested he did not want to let the result slip. Yet in the end the substitutions actually helped Barca go on and win.

But the German coach will need no reminding that Atletico caused Barca plenty of problems on Sunday simply by playing the ball over the top.

And he’ll know too that Alexander Sorloth is proving to be a real thorn in Barca’s side this season.

8 - No other player in the Top 5 European Leagues has scored more goals coming off the bench this season than @atletienglish Alexander Sørloth (eight). Replacement. pic.twitter.com/Y3zALZfwIF — OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 16, 2025

The striker has scored six goals in eight games against the Catalans and has made a real impact off the bench for Atletico.

Barcelona and Atletico will meet again in Madrid in April for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final tie with the game level at 4-4. Keeping Sorloth off the scoresheet in that match will surely go a long way to booking a spot in the final.

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