Barcelona staged a remarkable comeback against Atlético Madrid on Sunday, scoring four goals in the final 20 minutes to secure a thrilling 4-2 victory at the Metropolitano and return to the top of LaLiga.
Hansi Flick's side looked destined for disappointment after Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth had given Atlético a commanding 2-0 lead. However, the visitors produced an extraordinary recovery that left their coach in awe.
"The reaction after second Atlético goal was unbelievable," Flick said in his post-game news conference. "To score four goals in 20 minutes here against this team is very good. I am proud of this team. The mentality is really good. They never give up. The reaction on the pitch was unbelievable. It was a great day for us today."
The comeback began in the 72nd minute when Robert Lewandowski reduced the deficit with a brilliant effort. Six minutes later, substitute Ferran Torres headed in the equalizer, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Lamine Yamal then put Barcelona ahead in the 92nd minute before Torres added his second of the evening to complete the stunning turnaround.
Torres told ESPN that securing top spot in the league table was crucial heading into the international break. "It was important to go into the break with a win and top of the table," he said. "And not just top, but also with a game in hand. That will give us confidence when we come back to kick on from there and try and widen the gap with the other teams in the title race."
Despite the euphoria of victory, Yamal acknowledged that Barcelona's performance wasn't perfect. "I think intensity above all is what was missing [before the comeback]," he added. "We were waiting to see what happened rather than really going for it. Until they scored two goals, we didn't really step up and get going. That can't happen. It's something we have to improve. It also happened in the Copa del Rey. If we can improve these small details we can be closer to being a perfect team."
The victory extends Barcelona's unbeaten run to 18 games across all competitions. During this impressive stretch, they have won the Spanish Supercopa and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, where they will face Borussia Dortmund next month. Barcelona also remain alive in the Copa del Rey, with the second leg of their semifinal against Atlético scheduled for April after the first leg ended in a thrilling 4-4 draw.
When asked about the possibility of winning a Quadruple this season, Flick was measured in his response. "It's difficult, I know that it's a long way," he said. "Now, what I feel is really good. I have confidence in the team that we can make huge things together. There is a long way to go, but we will try everything to win titles. The match today gives us much more confidence."
Barcelona and Real Madrid are now level on points at the top of LaLiga, with Barcelona holding a game in hand. Atlético sit four points behind the leaders, but coach Diego Simeone insists his team will continue to fight.
"We will fight until the end. There are 10 games left and we have to play and win every one of them," Simeone said after the game. "It's not down to luck. It's down to hard work. I wouldn't put it down to luck. We have to recognize the rival."
Barcelona will return to action on March 30 when they host Girona, looking to build on their current seven-game winning streak in LaLiga and potentially extend their lead at the top of the table.
