Barcelona produced a stunning comeback performance to defeat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Wednesday, extending their La Liga lead to four points at the top of the table. Coach Hansi Flick praised his side’s display after recent inconsistencies, describing it as a significant turning point in their title challenge. Goals from Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Ferran Torres secured the victory for the Spanish champions, despite Robert Lewandowski’s first-half penalty miss that could have made their task easier.
Early Setback Turned Into Statement Win
Atletico took the lead through Alex Baena after just 13 minutes, firing past Barcelona’s high defensive line. However, the hosts responded swiftly, with Raphinha equalizing in the 26th minute following a clever assist from Pedri. Barcelona’s dominance continued as Dani Olmo restored their lead in the second half, capitalizing on a Lewandowski chance to secure what proved to be the decisive goal.
Significant Title Race Implications
This victory marks Barcelona’s fifth consecutive league win and sends an important message to their rivals. Atletico’s 13-game unbeaten streak ended with the loss, dropping them to fourth place, six points behind Barcelona. Real Madrid closed the gap to just one point after defeating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Wednesday, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice to maintain pressure on the leaders.
The result demonstrates Barcelona’s resilience and quality, providing coach Flick with a confidence boost as the season intensifies and the title race remains fiercely competitive between Spain’s elite sides.