Barcelona extended their advantage in La Liga to four points after reversing an early deficit to defeat Atletico Madrid 3-1 at the Nou Camp.
The away side struck first in the 19th minute when Alex Baena sprinted onto a long forward ball behind Barcelona’s advanced back line and lifted his shot beyond Joan Garcia. Although the assistant raised the flag, a VAR review confirmed the goal.
The hosts replied swiftly. Raphinha latched on to a well-weighted pass from Pedri, rounded Jan Oblak, and rolled the ball into the net to level the score seven minutes after Atletico’s opener.
Barcelona maintained control for much of the first half and even had the chance to move in front from the penalty spot after Pablo Barrios brought down Dani Olmo, but Robert Lewandowski sent his attempt high over the bar.
Second-half surge decides the match
The contest became increasingly frantic after the break, with both teams trading attacks in a rapid, open second half.
Barcelona edged ahead when Olmo steered a low effort into the far corner following a skillful dribble from Lamine Yamal, putting Hansi Flick’s team in front with just over 25 minutes remaining.
Atletico nearly restored parity when Thiago Almada rounded Garcia, only to somehow fail to convert into an unguarded goal. That miss proved costly as Barcelona soon pulled further clear.
Ferran Torres sealed the result late on, controlling Alejandro Balde’s delivery before finishing from close range to make it 3-1.
Injury concerns and title implications
The home side’s celebration was tempered by Olmo picking up a shoulder problem as he scored his goal, casting some uncertainty over his immediate availability.
Barcelona’s victory builds on a strong response since their October El Clasico defeat, a result that had left them five points behind Real Madrid. Five matches later, they now sit with a cushion at the summit, though having played one additional fixture.
