Atlético de Madrid 1 - 2 Barcelona: League leaders fight back

Barça claimed their first win against one of the big teams they have faced. This time, they came from behind at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano to beat Atlético de Madrid (1-2), with a Fermín López brace overturning Giuliano Simeone's opener. Barça therefore head into the international break as league leaders.

First half

The match began with Atlético much more active in attack and finding ways around Barça's early press. The hosts found outlets down the flanks, switching play to Kang-in Lee and Baena.

That brought the first dangerous chances. In the 6th minute, Julián Álvarez latched onto a superb pass from Koke and found himself one-on-one with Joan Garcia. The Argentine striker tried to beat the Barça goalkeeper, but Garcia stood his ground well and blocked his first effort. Atlético's number 19 then tried a second shot, but Gerard Martín prevented a goal by turning it behind for a corner. From the resulting delivery, Pubill connected well, but the crossbar denied the centre-back from Terrassa.

A minute later, Pedri drove forward into Oblak's penalty area and shot with his left foot. His effort, like his compatriot's, struck the crossbar. It was the first attacking threat from a Barça side who were being overrun by Atlético.

In the 10th minute, Julián Álvarez received a good ball down the left flank, took on Fariñas, who started despite Eric García being included in the squad, and squared the ball to Giuliano Simeone. The Argentine winger finished unmarked to score the opening goal.

Giuliano Simeone celebrates making it 1-0. Source: LaLiga.

Atlético responded well after the goal, pressing when necessary and dropping back when Barça tried to pin the home side in. Barça struggled to play out when Cholo Simeone's men pressed them. Even so, they gradually began to gain ground on Atlético. They still failed to register a shot on target, however.

Lamine Yamal, one of Barça's best performers, tried to beat players one-on-one. In the 23rd minute, the Rocafonda native got past Grimaldo with a little luck and went for goal, but his shot hit the side netting of Oblak's goal.

Despite Barça's good spell, the clearest chances continued to fall to Atlético. Julián Álvarez once again received the ball behind Brian Fariñas and shot at goal. Joan Garcia gathered it at the second attempt to deny the Argentine.

Barça began to feel increasingly comfortable as the minutes passed. Flick's players tried their luck, but Atlético's defence and goalkeeper kept their efforts out.

In the 44th minute, Fermín picked up a loose ball from an attempted pass and fired a left-footed shot across goal and past Jan Oblak. Barça had equalised in a match where, on clear-cut chances, they had not deserved to.

Celebrating Barça's first goal. Source: LaLiga.

The teams went into half-time level at 1-1.

Second half

Barça started the second half much better than Atlético de Madrid. From the first minute, they tried to pin Atlético inside their own half through possession and counter-pressing. Barça tried their luck from outside the area without much success, with Atlético's back line repelling Flick's side's efforts.

In the 55th minute, Atlético de Madrid had their chance. Julián Álvarez once again got in behind Barça's high defensive line. With Joan Garcia caught off his line, the Atlético striker attempted a lob from outside the area. His effort, however, went over the bar. Atleti's number 19 was met with some whistles from the Metropolitano crowd.

Despite Atlético's flashes of danger, Barça were dominating the match. In the 66th minute, Lamine Yamal picked out Fermín between Atlético's defenders, leaving him with only Oblak to beat. The Andalusian finished to complete his brace.

Fermín celebrates. Source: LaLiga.

Trailing 1-2, Atlético were forced to take far more risks. Barça tried to calm things down with the ball but made some unforced errors. Atlético, who had looked a little sleepy in the second half, woke up in the final 15 minutes.

In the closing stages, Barça tried to withstand passes into space for Sorloth and Jonathan David, as well as Atlético de Madrid's effective pressing as they sought to win the ball high up the pitch. Barça, meanwhile, tried to restore calm through possession.

The referee, Alberola Rojas, added four minutes to the regulation 90. Barça used that time to control the game with possession near Atleti's penalty area.

Match details:

Line-ups:

Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Hancko, Marc Pubill, Grimaldo; Giuliano, Koke (72', Hjulmand), Barrios (78', Jonathan David), Baena (72', Johnny); Kang-in Lee (60', Sorloth) and Julián Álvarez.

Barça: Joan Garcia; Fariñas (45', De Jong), Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Cancelo (60', Christensen); Marc Bernal (74', Eric Garcia), Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermín (74', Gavi), Gordon (86', Adeyemi); Raphinha.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.