Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid score, result: Historic Sorloth winner skewers Barcelona in dramatic La Liga finish | Sporting News United Kingdom

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Atletico Madrid climbed to the top of the La Liga standings after Alexander Sorloth netted the decisive goal just as the match was ending, leading to a thrilling 2-1 victory against Barcelona in Catalonia on Saturday.

The pivotal moment in the Spanish title race was also significant in history, as it marked Diego Simeone's first league victory at Barcelona. Additionally, it was the first time since 2006 that Atletico Madrid achieved a La Liga win away against the Catalan club.

Barcelona controlled almost the entire game offensively, and when Pedri found the net after half an hour, it felt like a sign of yet another tough defeat for Atletico in their challenging away games. Simeone's team was under constant pressure throughout the first half and didn’t manage to take a single shot before halftime.

A Deeper Dive: Examining the remarkable runs that came to a halt when Barcelona lost to Atletico Madrid.

When the second half started, not much altered, and it appeared the guests had no way to prevent history from unfolding the same way again. Even after Rodrigo de Paul managed to score and level the game in the 60th minute, it seemed inevitable that Barcelona would regain their earlier advantage sooner or later.

However, when Robert Lewandowski unexpectedly squandered an easy opportunity with just 15 minutes remaining, a glimmer of hope surfaced for Atletico Madrid. Then, in the final moments of the match, substitute Alexander Sorloth finished a fierce counter-attack, delivering a crushing blow to Barcelona's aspirations.

This victory pushed Atletico Madrid to the top of the Spanish league standings after securing 12 straight wins in all competitions. Meanwhile, Barcelona has only managed to win one of their last seven matches in La Liga, suffering two consecutive losses in the process.

The Sporting News provided live coverage of the match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, offering regular score updates and analysis.

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Barcelona Vs. Atletico Madrid: Game Results

Venue: Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium (Barcelona, Spain) Official: Ricardo De Burgos

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Barcelona lineup (4-3-3 formation, from right to left): 13. Inaki Pena (Goalkeeper) — 23. Jules Kounde, 2. Pau Cubarsi, 5. Inigo Martinez, 3. Alex Balde — 6. Gavi (replaced by Olmo in the 64th minute), 17. Marc Casado (replaced by E. Garcia in the 80th minute), 8. Pedri — 16. Fermin Lopez (replaced by F. Torres in the 64th minute), 9. Robert Lewandowski, 11. Raphinha.

Atletico Madrid (4-4-2 formation, moving from right to left): 13. Jan Oblak (Goalkeeper) — 14. Marcos Llorente (replaced by Le Normand in the 74th minute), 2. Jose Gimenez (substituted by Witsel in the 52nd minute), 15. Clement Lenglet, 21. Javi Galan — 22. Giuliano Simeone (substituted by Molina in the 62nd minute), 5. Rodrigo De Paul, 8. Pablo Barrios, 4. Conor Gallagher (replaced by Koke in the 62nd minute) — 7. Antoine Griezmann (substituted by Sorloth in the 74th minute), 19. Julian Alvarez.

MORE: Latest update on the La Liga top goal scorers following Lewandowski's shocking miss against Atletico.

Live Updates: Barcelona Vs Atlético Madrid

Barcelona Vs. Atlético Madrid Stats Breakdown

FINAL WHISTLE: Barcelona 1 - 2 Atletico Madrid

BARCELONA ARE SHOCKED AT THE LAST MOMENT! When the final whistle blows, Diego Simeone dashes down the tunnel in a frenzy of excitement!

The home team dominated the match from start to finish, yet they squandered several opportunities and were harshly punished for it. Diego Simeone has finally broken his streak, claiming his first-ever away league win against Barcelona!

90+7 minutes: GOAL! ATLETICO MADRID! ALEXANDER SORLOTH FIND THE BACK OF THE NET WITH THE FINAL MOMENT OF THE MATCH, TURNING HISTORY ON ITS HEAD AND SECURING AN UNLIKELY WIN FOR ATLETICO MADRID! WHAT A SPECTACLE!

Raphinha loses possession, and Atletico Madrid launches a rapid counterattack. With an expertly placed cross from Nahuel Molina on the right, Sorloth slots it home with pinpoint precision into the top corner! It’s hard to believe, but Barcelona has squandered the game after controlling most of the 90 minutes!

VIDEO: Check out Atletico Madrid's goal in the USA | View it in the UK

86th minute: Opportunity for Barcelona! Pedri delivers what might be the standout pass of the season from near midfield. He skillfully takes the ball near his shoulders and sends a stunning whip pass in the direction of a sprinting Raphinha on the left. However, as the Brazilian approached, he found himself at a difficult angle, and his attempted shot was deflected by Jan Oblak.

Shortly after, Barcelona regain possession, and Pedri receives the ball on the right side. However, he can only manage to force another challenging save from Oblak, resulting in a corner kick! Barcelona is firmly in control once again!

80th minute: Barcelona substitutes Marc Casado with Eric Garcia, bringing a fresh presence to their midfield. Shortly after, Dani Olmo takes a shot from a difficult angle, sending the ball across the goal but missing the far post.

77th minute: Opportunity for Atletico Madrid! Just after Lewandowski's missed chance, Inaki Pena pulls off an incredible save to maintain the tie! He keeps Pablo Barrios from scoring! Barrios breaks free on the left wing, having only the goalie to outsmart, but Pena brilliantly blocks him with his right leg!

Not long after, Robin Le Normand receives a yellow card for bringing down Pedri during a fast break as Barcelona tried to counterattack. The match is definitely beginning to get exciting!

76th minute: Opportunity for Barcelona! ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI MISSES A GOLDEN CHANCE TO PUT THE BALL IN THE NET! How did that just happen?!

The ball is expertly played across to the far post for Ferran Torres, who is right by the end line. He nudges it over to Lewandowski, who is unmarked and just a few yards from the goal. However, he completely misses his shot, and the opportunity slips away! You would have anticipated him to score that every single time!

LEWANDOWSKI LETS A BIG OPPORTUNITY SLIP AWAY! pic.twitter.com/KIGrpwJptD

74th minute: Antoine Griezmann, who has been completely absent in yet another match against Barcelona, is substituted for Alexander Sorloth for the last 15 minutes of the game. Barcelona is the only team in La Liga that Griezmann hasn't managed to score against while playing for Atletico Madrid.

Robin Le Normand steps in to take the place of Marcos Llorente.

66th minute: Opportunity for Barcelona! Raphinha expertly breaks through the Atletico Madrid defense with a lovely flick to Robert Lewandowski near the goal line. However, the striker is unable to reach it, and unfortunately, there’s no one at the far post to finish it off as the ball skims across the empty goal!

62nd minute: Koke is coming on to join the Atletico Madrid midfield, taking the spot of Conor Gallagher. The England player participated in the previous attack, but that's the last we’ll see of him in this match. Nahuel Molina is also coming in to take the place of the hardly noticeable Guiliano Simeone.

Barcelona quickly responded by substituting Fermin Lopez and Gavi with Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres.

60th minute: GOAL! ATLETICO MADRID! The visitors have equalized unexpectedly! Rodrigo de Paul scores with a precise shot after an attack that looked like it had stalled!

Julian Alvarez made a run down the left side and looked to set up Antoine Griezmann with a pass, but the ball was a bit off target and seemed to halt the play. However, it then deflected off Marc Casado’s extended leg, landing perfectly for a rushing De Paul, who was coming in from behind. Without hesitation, he fired a shot from about 25 yards out, finding the back of the net right inside the far post!

VIDEO: Check out De Paul's goal in the match against the USA.

3 - Rodrigo de Paul ???????? has netted three goals in his last four matches in @LaLiga, matching the total he scored in his prior 53 appearances in the league. Half of the goals he’s tallied for #AtléticoDeMadrid ????⚪️ (7 out of 14) have come from outside the penalty area. Impressive! pic.twitter.com/rkrHdtiOXe

57th minute: Opportunity for Barcelona! RAPHINHA HITS THE CROSSBAR WITH A CHIPPED SHOT! Pedri sets up the Brazilian on the right side, and Raphinha attempts a brilliant lob over Jan Oblak, but the ball hits the top of the goal post.

As the play continues, Robert Lewandowski makes an attempt to get to the ball but loses his footing and ends up colliding with Axel Witsel, who is now on the ground and requires medical attention.

In the 56th minute, Julian Alvarez skillfully chases down a pass, outpacing Pau Cubarsi and gaining the upper hand. However, Cubarsi keeps close and manages to make a crucial intercept just before Alvarez can take his shot.

Atletico's current scoring opportunities have all been created from counterattacks; they lack any kind of structured buildup play.

54th minute: Robert Lewandowski gets knocked down near the edge of the penalty area by Axel Witsel, who recently came onto the field. Witsel receives a yellow card for his careless tackle, which happened just outside the 18-yard box.

The referee awards the home team a risky free-kick positioned slightly left of center. Lewandowski steps up to take the shot but sends it crashing directly into the wall.

A short while later, Pedri attempts a shot at the top corner from a threatening spot on the right, but sends it just over the bar. Barcelona continues to dominate the game, with little having changed since the break.

52nd minute: Atletico Madrid has to make a substitution as their captain and most seasoned player, Jose Gimenez, is taken off. He appears to be in discomfort and shows signs of frustration as Axel Witsel comes on in his place.

48th minute: Opportunity for Barcelona! Fermin Lopez breaks free and heads towards the goal, courtesy of an incredible vertical pass from Pedri. However, Jan Oblak steps up with a spectacular save, preserving a one-goal difference!

From Atletico Madrid's standpoint, that was a frustrating opportunity to concede, as it resembled the play that led to the first goal! The chance arose due to a terrible mistake by Jose Gimenez, who tried to make a cross-field pass but instead handed the ball directly to Raphinha in a dangerous position up front.

Second half begins: The match has resumed at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona. Both teams have kept their starting lineups unchanged for the moment, which might come as a surprise to some, especially considering Atletico Madrid's situation.

HALF TIME: Barcelona leads Atletico Madrid 1-0.

Barcelona completely controlled the first 40 minutes of the match, with Pedri's goal serving as a highlight. Atletico Madrid seemed to find their footing in the last five minutes before halftime, but overall, they've been clearly outplayed in this game.

Barcelona managed to score only one goal despite their relentless offense, so it will be fascinating to watch how Diego Simeone adjusts his strategy or lineup during halftime. Atletico Madrid is facing yet another tough defeat away at Barcelona, a trend that has been common for them over the last twenty years.

23 - The teams from Europe's leading five leagues that have netted the highest number of goals in the first half of their games this season.

23 - #BARCELONA ???????? 22 - Bayer Leverkusen 21 - PSG 21 - Inter 20 - Bayern Munich

40th minute: Atletico Madrid seems to be launching a counterattack as Conor Gallagher successfully sets up Julian Alvarez in the forward position. However, Barcelona's well-known offside trap operates flawlessly, and Alvarez gets flagged for being just a little too early.

37th minute: Raphinha is on fire today, skillfully slipping the ball through Conor Gallagher's legs to break free down the right side. However, he gets tackled soon after while attempting to pull off the same move against another defender. Still, he's been causing real problems for the Atletico Madrid players so far.

30th minute: GOAL! BARCELONA! A FANTASTIC OPENING GOAL BY PEDRI!!! An amazing display of teamwork with Gavi, and it was well-deserved!

The Barcelona midfielder skillfully navigates past the Atletico Madrid midfield and passes to Gavi, who makes a fantastic turn to shake off a defender and sets up a one-two with Pedri. With a clear path to the goal, Pedri only needs to get the better of Jan Oblak, and he expertly slots it into the far corner! What an incredible team play!

VIDEO: Check out Pedri's goal in the USA | Watch in the UK

Join in the festivities with Pedri! ???? #BarçaAtleti | #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/LBfBGs7YRT

25th minute: Opportunity for Barcelona! The team keeps pressing, and Gavi sends a powerful header off target! Raphinha, who has been outstanding up to this point, provided a perfect cross right to the near post. However, Gavi fails to find the net, managing to generate a lot of strength in his attempt but missing the goal entirely.

21st minute: Opportunity for Barcelona! The game is temporarily halted while VAR reviews a moment when a Barcelona cross passes by two attackers and hits Giuliano Simeone on the elbow. However, the review team decides against it, noting that no advantage was gained since both forwards missed their chances to score as the ball went by. Kudos to the officials for their sensible decision!

As the corner kick unfolds, Inigo Martinez goes for a strong shot from roughly 10 yards out on the right side. However, Jan Oblak is well-positioned at his near post and deflects the ball away using both hands!

18th minute: Atletico Madrid has successfully contained Barcelona's offensive attempts, although they haven't created many opportunities for themselves either. Eventually, the visitors push forward and earn a questionable set-piece situation near the right corner flag, but their hurried cross is kicked away and cleared out of danger.

9th minute: Barcelona is still dominating the attack, pushing Atletico Madrid deep into their own half. Raphinha has been a real threat on the left flank, leading to some desperate defensive efforts from Atletico. It's clear that Barcelona is taking charge in the early stages of the game.

4th minute: Opportunity for Barcelona! The home team is starting strong, with Atletico Madrid managing to stop two clear attempts right in front of the goal! Raphinha's shot was the most impressive of the pair, as he fired it from the upper right side of the six-yard box, but it was successfully deflected!

Raphinha has a great opportunity! #BarçaAtleti ⏐ #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/dxdLzn58EF

Starting off: The leading two teams in the La Liga standings are now playing in Barcelona!

Barcelona Vs. Atletico Madrid: Match Preview & Analysis

15 minutes until the game starts: We've already discussed Atletico Madrid's dismal history against Barcelona, but here's a stat that puts it in context: Atletico hasn't secured a league victory at Barcelona since February 2006.

That's more than a year before Lamine Yamal came into the world! Could their current performance this season help them turn around their poor track record against the Catalan giants today?

????: Atlético Madrid’s manager, Diego Simeone, has struggled to secure a victory at Barcelona, having failed in 17 matches across all competitions. His record includes 7 draws and 10 losses during these away games at Barça. pic.twitter.com/8DewZKMhKr

30 minutes until the match starts: Lionel Messi holds the record for the most goals in this matchup, scoring 26 times in La Liga while playing for Barcelona against Atletico Madrid. If we look at all competitions, he tallied 32 goals. On the other hand, the top scorer for the visiting team is Paco Campos, who has netted 12 goals—less than half of what Messi has achieved in his career.

????️ From the Archives: The ???? vs. Atleti #BarçaAtleti pic.twitter.com/9aSuPqVWH1

45 minutes until kickoff: Both teams have opted for a largely stable starting lineup based on their available players, but they’ve both made adjustments in the midfield. Conor Gallagher for Atletico Madrid and Gavi for Barcelona each bring a strong work ethic to the center of the field.

What makes this particularly intriguing is the emphasis on the players who were left out of the starting lineup. For Barcelona, both Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo were benched, with Olmo having gone without a goal or assist since early November.

In their recent victory against Getafe, Atletico Madrid substituted Samuel Lino at halftime, bringing on Gallagher, a dedicated midfielder. This change could indicate a shift away from the 4-4-2 formation, possibly positioning Antoine Griezmann in the number 10 role while Simeone and Alvarez play up front together. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out.

1 hour to kickoff: The Barcelona starting lineup was announced slightly ahead of schedule, and there are no surprises in Hansi Flick's selection either. Lamine Yamal is still sidelined due to an ankle injury, and Fermin Lopez takes his place on the wing instead of the in-form Ferran Torres. Gavi returns to midfield, making just his third league start this season since recovering from an ACL injury.

Flick won't be present on the sidelines today as he is currently serving the second match of his two-game suspension.

1 hour 15 minutes to kickoff: Atletico Madrid has公布ed their starting lineup 15 minutes ahead of schedule. Diego Simeone's selection is as expected, featuring just one alteration—England's Conor Gallagher comes in for Samuel Lino.

1 hour 30 minutes to go: Atletico Madrid is sporting their stylish gray jerseys today. What a beautiful away uniform!

1 hour 45 minutes until kickoff: Ferran Torres has been performing well as a substitute for Barcelona lately, frequently replacing the veteran Robert Lewandowski to close out matches. The ex-Manchester City player shared that his recent improvement is largely due to Lewandowski's influence, explaining that he has been trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible from the renowned Polish striker.

2 hours until kickoff: Atletico Madrid's current performance in the league stands in striking opposition to their past encounters with Barcelona.

Atletico Madrid is on a remarkable streak, having secured victory in their last 11 matches across various tournaments, with the last six being in the league. However, they have struggled against Barcelona, losing five consecutive league encounters and only managing to win once in their last 16 meetings. Additionally, they haven't found the back of the net in their last four matches against Barcelona.

What’s even more surprising is that Antoine Griezmann, the electric forward, has yet to find the net for Atletico Madrid in league matches against Barcelona. Out of 15 games played, he has only managed to contribute once, providing an assist during a 1-1 draw in 2018.

Is there a possibility for change today? The recent performances of both Griezmann and Atletico Madrid suggest that this might be their best opportunity in a long time to break that unfortunate trend.

Kickoff Time For Barcelona Vs. Atletico Madrid

The highly anticipated La Liga clash will take place at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on Saturday, December 21, at 9 p.m. local time in Barcelona, Spain. Here’s what that time means in several key regions around the world:

Barcelona Vs. Atletico Madrid: Lineups & News

Barcelona will be missing their young star Lamine Yamal, who is out with an ankle injury and won't return until early 2025. Hansi Flick's team hasn't managed to win any of the four league matches that the 17-year-old has missed this season. Fermin Lopez is likely to take his place in the starting lineup.

Additionally, the team's leader is absent as Flick is currently serving the second game of his two-match suspension.

Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are all still sidelined with injuries, leaving FC Barcelona's squad looking a bit sparse—a situation that fans have seen frequently in recent seasons. However, Ansu Fati is back on the bench today, and Ronaldo Araujo is among the substitutes as he continues his recovery from a lengthy hamstring injury.

Barcelona's starting formation (4-3-3) features: Pena in goal; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, and Balde in defense; a midfield trio of Gavi, Casado, and Pedri; and an attacking front line consisting of Lopez, Lewandowski, and Raphinha.

Barcelona substitutes (12): Szczesny (goalkeeper), Astralaga (goalkeeper), Araujo, E. Garcia, S. Dominguez, G. Martin, De Jong, Olmo, Torre, Fati, F. Torres, Victor.

Diego Simeone has not reported any new injury issues among his players, so he might opt to keep the same lineup that secured a 1-0 victory against Getafe last weekend. The only player who was anticipated to miss the match due to a muscle injury is Angel Correa; however, he is still available to come off the bench.

Even though Alexander Sorloth netted the decisive goal as a substitute in the last match, he may still find himself on the bench, as Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann are both playing exceptionally well in the forward position.

Atletico Madrid's lineup in a 4-4-2 formation: Oblak in goal — Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, and Galan in defense — Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, and Gallagher in midfield — Alvarez and Griezmann up front.

Atletico Madrid substitutes (12): Musso (goalkeeper), Azpilicueta, Le Normand, Witsel, Riquelme, Reinildo, Lino, Molina, Lemar, Koke, Correa, Sorloth.