Atletico Madrid will end the year top of LALIGA after coming from behind to defeat FC Barcelona 2-1 on Saturday night.
LALIGA
Report: Barcelona 1-2 Atletico Madrid
Date: 21 December 2024
Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
The shock defeat to Leganes saw the home side make three changes in Pau Cubarsi, Gavi and Fermin Lopez, who stepped in for Eric Gracia, Dani Olmo and injured Lamine Yamal.
Gavi should've opened the deadlock minutes to the half-hour mark with a powerful header in the area from Raphinha's cross, but unfortunately went wide.
Barca eventually four minutes later as Pedri charged ahead from midfield to play a clever one-two with Gavi before finishing from the edge of the box.
The travelling charges weren't overawed though but were moments levelling up where Antoine Griezmann lined-up Julian Alvarez with a reverse pass, but Inaki Pena narrowed angle.
With halftime concluded, Barca targeted a second goal as a combination between Raphinha and Pedri released Lopez to take aim but goalkeeper Jan Oblak scooped away.
Raphinha were unfortunate not to extend the lead after running in-behind to beat offside trap to meet Pedri's pass and looked to lob Oblak, but the upright sadly denied him.
The hosts were made to rue that mis as the visitors levelled when Argentine Rodrigo De Paul pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box and calmly curled into the far corner.
Barcelona shuffled up the attacking stall around the final quarter with Olmo on for Lopez before Gavi stepped aside for Ferran Torres to enter the field.
Torres got stuck instantly after meeting Raphinha's ball to cutback for Robert Lewandowski to finish from close-range, but the Pole mis-timed delivery and saw the chance go astray.
Atleti's confidence strengthened in added time as they got the winner when Alexander Sorloth pounced on Nahuel Molina's ball to finish with ease, clinching top spot in their final game of the year while Barcelona drop to second.
