Sorloth scores late winner as Atletico Madrid beats Barcelona to end 2024 as table-topper

Sorloth scores late winner as Atletico Madrid beats Barcelona to end 2024 as table-topper

Alexander Sorloth struck deep in stoppage time to hand Atletico Madrid a 2-1 comeback win at Barcelona on Saturday that moved it top of La Liga with its 12th consecutive victory across all competitions.

Atletico has 41 points, three ahead of Barcelona which has gone three league games without a win.

Barca was the better side in the opening exchanges and Pedri scored on the half-hour mark following a great run into the box and a one-two with Gavi before beating goalkeeper Jan Oblak with a low shot.

Rodrigo De Paul grabbed the equaliser, capitalising on a poor clearance by Marc Casado on the edge of the box to slot his shot into the bottom corner with what was only Atletico’s second attempt on goal in the game.

Oblak pulled off a couple of key saves to deny the host a winner before substitute Sorloth netted with a first-time effort six minutes into stoppage time from a deep cross by Nahuel Molina.