Atletico Madrid relinquished a two-goal lead in its 4-2 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish league in one other setback for the membership after it was eradicated by Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Playing on the Metropolitano stadium 4 days after it misplaced to Madrid in a penalty shootout, Atletico led Barcelona 2-0 at halftime on Sunday (March 16, 2025) however conceded a pair of stoppage-time targets to waste an opportunity to overhaul the Catalan membership for second place and transfer inside a degree of league chief Madrid.
“It was a weird game, we did well in the first half and had the game under control after scoring twice,” Atletico participant Marcos Llorente stated.
“I do think that the 120 minutes that we had to play in the Champions League made a difference, there was a letdown in the end.”
The defeat left Atletico 4 factors behind its two rivals in the league, with Barcelona having a sport in hand. Madrid gained 2-1 at Villarreal on Saturday.
Lamine Yamal scored two minutes into stoppage time and Ferran Torres six minutes later to offer Barcelona the gritty come-from-behind victory.
“It’s a statement win for us, allowing us to regain the lead with a game in hand,” Yamal stated.
Julián Álvarez had put Atletico forward after a breakaway simply earlier than halftime. It had been an uncommon double contact by Álvarez in the penalty shootout towards Madrid that led to Atletico’s elimination from the Champions League on Wednesday.
Atletico added to the lead with a aim by substitute Alexander Sorloth from inside the world in the seventieth. Robert Lewandowski, the league’s main scorer, gave Barcelona hope by discovering the online in the 72nd, and Torres equalized with a header after a cross by Raphinha in the 78th.
“We have to congratulate them,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone stated.
“There was a bit of luck, which you must have sometimes. We had a few chances in counterattacks but didn’t take advantage of them. Barcelona is a great team.”
Atletico beat Barcelona 2-1 when the groups met in Barcelona in their first Spanish league match of the season in December. They drew 4-4 in a first-leg match in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey final month. The second leg is in April.
Athletic set for Champions League place
Athletic Bilbao solidified its fourth place with a 1-0 win at Sevilla.
Yeray Álvarez scored with a header in the 84th to offer Athletic the away victory and an eight-point hole to fifth-placed Villarreal, which has a sport in hand.
It was Athletic’s second win in a row after three straight matches with out a victory throughout all tournaments. It got here off a 3-1 win over Roma to succeed in the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
Real Betis rallies
Sixth-placed Real Betis rallied from two targets down at halftime to win 3-2 at relegation-threatened Leganes, with Cucho Hernández scoring the winner in the 82nd.
The hosts had taken the lead with Dani Raba scoring in the twenty ninth and forty fourth earlier than Betis equalised by Isco in the sixty fourth and Cédric Bakambu in the 78th.
It was the third straight victory for Betis in all competitions, and the second loss in a row for 18th-placed Leganes.
Also Sunday, ninth-placed Rayo Vallecano drew 2-2 at dwelling with Twelfth-placed Real Sociedad, which is winless in six consecutive video games in all competitions. Rayo is winless in 5 straight league matches.
Published – March 17, 2025 01:38 pm IST
