Barcelona End Atlético’s Unbeaten Run with 3-1 Triumph to Stay Top of La Liga

Key Takeaways:

• Last night at Camp Nou, Barcelona secured a 3-1 victory over Atlético Madrid, holding onto their place at the summit of La Liga
• Diego Simeone’s side saw their impressive seven-match winning streak across all competitions come to an end
• Both Pedri and Dani Olmo suffered injuries during the contest, while Robert Lewandowski missed a first-half penalty

Match Summary and Context

Barcelona maintained their position at the top of La Liga with a 3-1 win over Atlético Madrid at Camp Nou in a fixture brought forward from matchday 19. This rearrangement, as with the impending fixture between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid, comes ahead of January’s Spanish Super Cup, when all four sides will compete in Saudi Arabia.

The contest began unfavourably for Hansi Flick’s men, as the visitors took the lead through Álex Baena in the 19th minute after the Rojiblancos had been controlling proceedings. However, just six minutes later, Pedri set up Raphinha for the equaliser, restoring parity.

HUGEEEEE WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/FWU8T99yKw

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 2, 2025

First Half Analysis

An early blow for Atlético saw Johnny Cardoso forced off due to injury in the 14th minute, replaced by captain Koke. The hosts soon found themselves behind, with Baena exploiting a gap to score. However, Barcelona swiftly replied, Pedri’s incisive pass allowing Raphinha to finish past Jan Oblak and make it 1-1.

Atleti twice came close to regaining the lead, with Baena denied one-on-one by Joan García in the 31st minute, amidst Atlético protests about a possible handball outside the box, which the officials ruled did not occur. Moments later, Dani Olmo won a penalty after being fouled by Pablo Barrios, but Lewandowski blazed the spot-kick over the crossbar in the 36th minute. Within two minutes, the Polish striker almost made amends, heading goalwards from a Yamal cross only for Oblak to produce a remarkable save.

The first half ended with controversy as Gerard Martin fouled Giuliano Simeone during a breakaway. Despite Atlético’s calls for a red card, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea decided on yellow, citing the presence of two additional Barcelona defenders.

Second Half: Turning the Tide

Both sides wasted opportunities early in the second period. In the 53rd minute, Raphinha sent a left-footed shot wide, quickly followed by Simeone missing from close range at the other end.

Barcelona eventually broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when Dani Olmo found the net, though he was injured during the scoring action and had to withdraw. Substitute Lamine Yamal nearly extended the home side’s advantage but failed to hit the target minutes later.

Atlético tried to rally, nearly equalising in the 79th minute when Thiago Almada dribbled through several Barcelona defenders only to shoot off target. The capital club increased the pressure as the match drew to a close, with Antoine Griezmann unable to convert a promising chance in stoppage time.

Ultimately, Barcelona sealed the win in the dying moments, as Ferran Torres scored to set the final score at 3-1.

Critical Incidents and Player Performances

The fixture saw several key injuries, notably to Pedri and Olmo for Barcelona, while Atlético’s Cardoso was also forced off in the early stages. Despite his penalty miss, Lewandowski remained a threat and was only denied by Oblak’s spectacular saves. Atlético, meanwhile, rued missed chances by Baena, Giuliano Simeone, Almada, and Griezmann as their seven-game winning run under Diego Simeone came to an abrupt halt.

Looking Forward

While Barcelona’s hard-fought win ensured their place atop La Liga, attention turns to the injury status of Pedri and Olmo. Meanwhile, Atlético Madrid, having seen their winning streak broken, will look to regroup as both clubs prepare for further congested fixtures, with the Spanish Super Cup campaigns on the horizon.