Staff Reporter.
Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres struck in stoppage time as Barcelona came back from two goals down to claim a dramatic victory over fellow title hopefuls Atletico Madrid and move top of La Liga.
The visitors started the day knowing a win would put them ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, while Atletico would leapfrog Barca into second with the three points.
It looked like Atletico would stage the perfect response to their Champions League last-16 exit in midweek on penalties to city rivals Real when they led 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining.
Julian Alvarez, who was penalised for a double-kick spot-kick in that shootout loss on Wednesday, opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, turning in Giuliano Simeone’s cross.
Alexander Sorloth added the second in the 70th minute when he was picked out inside the box by Conor Gallagher.
But Barcelona scored twice in six minutes to level matters, Robert Lewandowski driving in a fine 72nd-minute strike before Torres headed in the equaliser from Raphinha’s floated cross.
Sorloth had a chance to win it late on for Atletico when he was put through on goal, but he sent his shot wide with the outside of his boot and may have been just offside.
It sparked a late rally from Barca as Yamal’s curling deflected strike in the second minute of added time put them ahead, before Torres added a fourth just before the final whistle with a low finish.
The Spain star told ESPN it was vital to get back to the top of LaLiga going into the international break, with Barça not back in action until they host Girona on March 30.
“It was important to go into the break with a win and top of the table,” he said. “And not just top, but also with a game in hand. That will give us confidence when we come back to kick on from there and try and widen the gap with the other teams in the title race.”
Barcelona are level on 60 points with Real, but crucially have a game in hand. Atletico remain third but are four points behind the top two.