Sorloth's Last-Gasp Strike Hands Atletico Madrid a Comeback Victory Against Barcelona
Montjuic, December 21, 2024 – Atletico Madrid produced a dramatic second-half turnaround to beat Barcelona 2-1 at Montjuic, with Alexander Sorloth scoring a 96th-minute winner to seal the three points. The Colchoneros were second best in the first half, but a rejuvenated display after the break saw them claim a memorable victory, sending them top of La Liga heading into the winter break.
Barcelona's First-Half Dominance
Barcelona were in control during the opening 45 minutes and deservedly took the lead through a brilliant team move. Pedri and Gavi exchanged passes, carving through the Atleti defense to set up a well-placed shot for Gavi, who made no mistake, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage. Atletico Madrid were passive in response, failing to register a single shot in the first half and finishing with an expected goals (xG) of zero.
The Blaugrana, on the other hand, dominated possession, and while they couldn't extend their lead before the break, they looked set to add to their advantage in the second half, having already created several dangerous opportunities.
Atletico's Resilience After the Break
However, Atletico came out after the interval a completely different side. It took just 15 minutes for Diego Simeone’s men to find an equalizer. Rodrigo De Paul, who had been relatively quiet in the first half, came to life with a clinical first-time finish from over 20 yards out. The Argentine's strike beat Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena, bringing Atletico level at 1-1.
Barcelona squandered several chances to restore their lead and put the game to bed. Raphinha hit the crossbar, while Robert Lewandowski fluffed a golden opportunity, failing to convert from close range. These missed chances proved costly as Atletico capitalized on their limited opportunities.
Sorloth's Last-Minute Heroics
As the game approached its final moments, Atletico’s clinical nature came to the fore. Sorloth, who had been introduced in the 70th minute, sealed the win with a cool finish in the 96th minute. The Norwegian striker latched onto a perfectly timed cross and made no mistake, guiding the ball into the net to give Atletico a dramatic 2-1 lead.
Despite registering just an expected goals (xG) of 0.63, Atletico Madrid were clinical in front of goal, scoring with half of their shots on target. Barcelona, on the other hand, created plenty but were left to rue their missed chances, with a total xG of 2.53 not enough to earn them anything from the game.
Atletico Madrid Top La Liga, Barcelona Stay Second
The win sees Atletico Madrid leapfrog Barcelona to take the top spot in La Liga, heading into the winter break with momentum on their side. The Colchoneros will return to action in the Copa del Rey against Marbella on January 4, while Barcelona will face Barbastro on the same day, looking to bounce back from this disappointing defeat.
Atletico Madrid's resilience and clinical finishing in the second half ensured they took all three points in a game that had looked to be slipping away from them. Barcelona, despite dominating for large parts of the match, will be left to reflect on missed opportunities as they remain in second place in La Liga. The season is far from over, but the dramatic nature of this victory sets Atletico up for a strong push for the title in 2025.
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