Barcelona 1-2 Atletico Madrid: Player Ratings From Atletico's Shocking Stoppage Time Victory

Atlético Madrid stunned Barcelona, beating them 2–1 and taking over first place in La Liga. | IMAGO/Pressinphot

There's a new leader in La Liga and it's Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid after they defeated Barcelona 2–1 in a thrilling game.

Barcelona dominated the game, suffocating Atlético with their high press and opening the scoring in the first half with a wonderful play from Pedri who notched his fourth goal of the season.

Hansi Flick's side continued to dominate affairs in the second half but couldn't capitalize on a number of clear chances to increase their lead and it cost them. Marc Casadó errantly cleared a ball and left it on a plate for Rodrigo De Paul to score the equalizer an hour into the game

Barça spent the remaining half an hour of the match testing the resolve of Atlético's defense that sat back protecting the result. Despite many chances, the Blaugrana were unable to score a winner and finally, in the final minute of stoppage time, Simeone's side threw a knockout punch with a perfect counter attack that Alexander Sørloth turned into the game winner.

ATLETICO MADRID TAKE DOWN BARCELONA IN STOPPAGE TIME 😱

THEY ARE NOW THREE POINTS CLEAR AT THE TOP OF LALIGA WITH A GAME IN HAND 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ndmq2L5uo3
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 21, 2024

Atlético's shocking victory—the first at Barcelona's home in the Simeone era—now has them atop La Liga's standings going into 2025. It's 12 wins in a row across all competitions for Los Colchoneros and the tenth time this season they've scored in stoppage time to either win or tie a game.

Barcelona head into the new year frustrated. Losing a game they dominated from start to finish and relinquishing the league lead is a gut-wrenching way to end the 2024. Flick's side must find a way to turn around their domestic crisis that has seen them drop points in six of their last seven La Liga matches.