Tag: Barcelona

Villarreal qualified for next season’s Champions League with an entertaining 3-2 win at newly-crowned La Liga champions Barcelona on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Kylian Mbappe struck as Real Madrid won 2-0 at nine-man Sevilla, while Leganes gave themselves a chance of survival with a win at Las Palmas.

Barcelona stars celebrated their 28th league title on an open-top bus on Friday, but Hansi Flick warned that “those who party, can work” and selected a strong side.

However, the visitors took the lead through in-form striker Ayoze Perez, who slotted past Marc-Andre ter Stegen after Nicolas Pepe set him up.

Lamine Yamal, who scored a vital goal as Barca clinched the league on Thursday at Espanyol, scored another stunner to level.

The 17-year-old breezed past two defenders and arrowed a shot into the far bottom corner.

Yamal hit the bar before Fermin Lopez sent Barca ahead, walloping home from the edge of the box.

Santi Comesana lofted over Ter Stegen to equalise for the visitors, who nosed in front through Tajon Buchanan in the 80th minute.

Barca fell to their first home defeat of 2025 and also their first league reverse this year, but chants of “champions” rang around the Olympic stadium, on potentially the team’s last game there before a return to the renovated Camp Nou next season.

The domestic treble winners were presented with the league trophy at the end of the game to cap a superb first season under Flick.

“We saw a lot of potential in the team… we can improve (Barca) a little bit, they adapted to the idea of how we want to play and they showed they can play football,” said a proud Flick.

“When you have confidence, everything is possible.”

Villarreal booked their return to Europe’s top competition as they opened up a big gap on Real Betis, sixth, as they were thrashed 4-1 at Atletico Madrid.

Julian Alvarez scored two and created another as Diego Simeone’s side, third, ran out comfortable winners.

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French superstar Mbappe netted his 29th league goal of the season to help Real Madrid to a narrow win over nine-man Sevilla in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s penultimate match at the helm.

Loic Bade’s 12th-minute red card for a professional foul on Mbappe set back the hosts, and then Isaac Romero was dismissed at the start of the second half for a high tackle on Aurelien Tchouameni.

Eventually, the division’s top scorer Mbappe drilled home Madrid’s opener from distance, and Jude Bellingham nabbed a second from close range late on.

“It was a strange atmosphere, at this club you always play for everything and today we weren’t playing for much, but we have to defend this shirt,” said Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde.

Madrid failed to win a major trophy this season after claiming a Champions League and La Liga double in the previous campaign, but will play in the Club World Cup this summer in the United States.

“We’re excited and looking forward to it, proud to represent Madrid,” added Valverde.

By the time Madrid arrive in the US, they may have a new coach, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso poised to take over.

Veteran Luka Modric impressed for Madrid and is nearing the end of his contract, with the 39-year-old’s future beyond the end of the season uncertain.

“Everyone knows how much Madrid loves Modric, they will have time to make the right decision,” said Ancelotti. “For the club, for him, and for the future.”

At the bottom of the table, Leganes took their fight for survival to the last day of the season with a 1-0 win at downed Las Palmas, thanks to Dani Raba’s early strike.

The Madrid minnows, 18th, are two points from safety and face relegated Real Valladolid in their last game.

Espanyol’s 2-0 defeat by Osasuna leaves them in danger of the drop and the Catalan side, 17th, welcome Las Palmas next weekend knowing a win would keep them up.

Getafe and Alaves secured safety with wins over Mallorca and Valladolid, respectively.

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Real Madrid snatched a last-gasp 2-1 win over Real Mallorca on Wednesday in La Liga to delay the title celebrations of Barcelona.

Los Blancos cut the gap on the Catalan giants to four points ahead of Barcelona’s visit to neighbours Espanyol on Thursday, where they can wrap up the title with a victory.

Trailing for much of the game after Martin Valjent’s 11th-minute opener, two second-half goals for Real Madrid ensured their arch-rivals did not claim their 28th La Liga title just yet.

Madrid needed to win to deny Barca, and Kylian Mbappe’s equaliser and Jacobo Ramon’s 95th-minute strike allowed them to do just that.

Los Blancos’ defeat by Barcelona on Sunday in the Clasico left the Catalans on the brink of the title, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side showed fighting spirit in the final stages against Mallorca.

“The team played very well, it fought a lot, played with a lot of intensity and it was a totally deserved victory,” said Ancelotti.

“We are happy because we want to finish the season well and this game didn’t start well but afterwards we did very well in all senses.”

Madrid coach Ancelotti is departing to take charge of the Brazilian national team at the end of a disappointing season in the Spanish capital, and has two games left in his post.

The Italian’s Madrid side, riddled with injury problems, were without Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes among other star names as Mallorca visited the Santiago Bernabeu.

“Having 12 players injured is very strange. We were able to overcome the absences with a good attitude, individually and as a group,” added Ancelotti.

The islanders, ninth, are hoping for European football for the first time since 2004 and put up a strong performance.

Madrid’s 18-year-old striker Endrick, whom Ancelotti may call up for Brazil in the future, came close early on but Leo Roman tipped his effort away.

Real Mallorca took an early lead when Valjent received the ball on the right of the box in an ocean of space.

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The defender took his shot early and beat Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, making his 200th La Liga appearance.

Roman made a fine save to thwart England international Jude Bellingham as Madrid pushed for an equaliser.

The stopper, who also excelled for Mallorca in a recent narrow defeat at Barcelona, denied Mbappe and then Fede Valverde before the break.

Eventually, Mbappe found a breakthrough for Madrid after 68 minutes, with some superb footwork to escape three Mallorca players trying to shut him down, and he drilled past Roman.

It was Mbappe’s 40th goal of a productive season on a personal level, although his team are set to end it without a major trophy and having been beaten four times by Barcelona across all competitions.

Mateu Morey should have put Mallorca back ahead almost instantly after a Jacobo error, but Courtois denied him one-on-one.

Roman produced yet another fine save from Arda Guler’s drive before Valjent headed Mbappe’s effort off the line and to safety with the goalkeeper out of position.

It looked like, despite Madrid’s efforts, they were not going to find a winner, but 20-year-old defender Jacobo lifted a dropping ball over Roman’s head as the Mallorca defence hesitated.

Barcelona took 40 shots in their 1-0 win over Mallorca in April, and Madrid produced 39.

“Leo Roman had a great game,” said his opposite number, Courtois.

“(Jacobo) was confident and in the end he scored that goal… It’s very good for the youth academy, there are a lot of kids trying to get through.

“When they have to be there, they are. We Madrid fans have to be proud of the academy.”

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Barcelona mounted a spectacular comeback to beat Real Madrid 4-3 in La Liga on Sunday and move to the brink of the title after overcoming a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe.

The France striker threatened to haul Madrid back into the title race, but Raphinha’s double and goals from Lamine Yamal and Eric Garcia gave Barcelona a seven-point lead on the reigning champions with three matches remaining.

Hansi Flick’s side were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals by Inter Milan on Tuesday and risked their season collapsing if they were beaten by Madrid, but they resisted after Mbappe’s early brace.

Barcelona battled back to claim a fourth Clasico victory from four meetings this season, showing their dominance over Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

“We’ve opened up an important gap, it was key to win this game after the Champions League (defeat), the fans have forgotten it and so have we, let’s enjoy this,” Yamal told Movistar.

“It was important to win today to bring the league title closer and it went very well, we’re very happy.”

Real Madrid are set to finish the season without a major trophy.

“We have to defend better, that is quite evident from today’s game, we defended badly and that’s that,” said Ancelotti.

“Mbappe did well… in an attacking sense, the team had clear ideas, but we could have defended better.”

Madrid had made the perfect start to what is expected to be the Italian coach’s final Clasico at the helm.

Mbappe earned a penalty when he was scythed down by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, although the Catalans complained in vain that the forward was offside in the build-up.

The striker beat Szczesny, who dived the right way and got his fingers to it, but could not keep it out.

In the 14th minute, Mbappe doubled the advantage of Real Madrid with a lethal finish after Vinicius Junior played him through, with Barcelona complaining again about a perceived foul on Yamal earlier in the move.

It was his 26th La Liga strike, taking him past Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski on 25 at the top of the scoring charts, and his 38th of the season across all competitions, beating Ivan Zamorano’s club record of 37 in a first season with Los Blancos.

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Just as they have done on so many occasions this season, Flick’s spirited young Barcelona fought their way back in front with a stirring comeback.

Garcia headed home Ferran Torres’ flick-on from a corner to spark it.

Then Madrid could not stop 17-year-old star Yamal from levelling with a cultured bending effort beyond Courtois after Torres laid the ball off to him.

Two minutes later, Raphinha drilled Barca ahead, with Pedri threading him through.

Mbappe thought he had won another penalty when he fell under pressure from Frenkie de Jong, but VAR revealed an offside in the build-up.

Moments later, Raphinha netted his second, picking Lucas Vazquez’s pocket on the edge of the area, exchanging passes with Torres and beating Courtois.

Mbappe netted from an offside position before the break, bringing a rollercoaster first half to a close.

Yamal had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second half as Barcelona looked to put their arch-rivals to the sword.

However, Vinicius got behind Barca’s high line, and he fed Mbappe for his hat-trick.

Barcelona appealed for a penalty when Aurelien Tchouameni blocked Torres’ shot with his arm, but the referee did not give it despite being called to review it by VAR.

Real Madrid substitute Victor Munoz fired high and wide when sent through, and Szczesny denied Mbappe, who had another strike ruled out for offside.

Barcelona thought they had wrapped up their win with a superb Fermin Lopez solo effort, but it was harshly disallowed for handball.

Madrid had no time left to fight back, though, and Barcelona, who last won the league in 2023, could seal the title as early as Wednesday, should Los Blancos stumble against Mallorca.

If Real Madrid avoid defeat, Barcelona will be champions with a win at Espanyol the next day.

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Inter Milan are one victory away from Champions League redemption after Tuesday’s chaotic, mesmerising win over Barcelona, which propelled the Italians into their second final in three seasons.

Simone Inzaghi’s team had been in a fragile state in recent weeks after their treble bid went up in smoke, surrendering top spot in Serie A to Napoli and being dumped out of the Italian Cup by local rivals AC Milan.

But beating star-studded Barca, and the incredible manner in which they did it, has completely changed the atmosphere at Inter, who are now bullish about their chances of being crowned kings of Europe for the fourth time.

Inter will take on either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain in Munich, knowing their task will be nowhere near as difficult as it was two years ago, when they were narrowly beaten by possibly the best Manchester City team of the Pep Guardiola era.

That single-goal defeat to City in Istanbul was a bitter one for Inter, who felt they were the better team on the night, bridging a monstrous financial gap with the mega-rich Premier League club with tactical nous and desire.

“We’ve been thinking about this since the day after we lost the last final,” said captain Lautaro Martinez, almost sobbing with joy after the final whistle.

“Now we’ve got to rest and finish the season well, knowing we have another opportunity to make history.”

Inter have always had the reputation of being an anarchic, crazy club, as capable of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory as they are winning major titles.

Their 7-6 triumph over Barca, which flipped one way and the next over the course of two barely believable legs, fully lived up to their nickname of “Pazza (mad) Inter”.

Martinez had been a doubt right until the eve of the match but recovered from a hamstring injury in time to both score and win a penalty which gave Inter their 2-0 half-time lead.

And Francesco Acerbi would ordinarily get a nosebleed being as far forward as he was to send the tie into extra-time with his first-ever Champions League goal, at 37 years old, just as it looked like Raphinha had sealed a stunning comeback win for Barca.

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The Catalan giants could barely believe what they were seeing when super-sub Davide Frattesi guided home his extra-time winner, unused to being the team on the end of landmark defeats and frustrated at how their at times untouchable play failed to bear its expected fruit.

If anything, Tuesday’s win felt like a mark of destiny for a grand old team who have had to battle desperate financial difficulties and an enforced change of ownership just as Inzaghi has made Inter one of Europe’s pre-eminent sides.

“We were up against a great team, but we’ve been raising our game for the last four or five years, every single year, and we’re so proud of that,” said Martinez.

Inzaghi risked ending the season with nothing but criticism after trying to fight on three fronts with a budget that is dwarfed by those of Europe’s other major clubs.

Inter, like the rest of cash-strapped Serie A, can no longer attract the world’s top stars, so Inzaghi has had to create a team unit, a spirit that shines through on the big occasion.

Victory in Munich would be just reward for a coach who joined a club in turmoil in 2021 following the departure of both Antonio Conte and a clutch of star players, and he was close to the sack not long before Inter reached the Champions League final two years later.

Inzaghi’s ability was questioned after Inter lost a dramatic Serie A title battle with Milan in his first season and then finished 18 points behind 2023 champions Napoli.

But he has since risen to become one of football’s elite coaches, and now he and Inter have the chance of a lifetime to win club football’s biggest prize.

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Barcelona defender Jules Kounde struck deep in extra-time to decide a gripping Copa del Rey Clasico final on Saturday in Seville, earning his side a 3-2 win over rivals Real Madrid.

The Catalans, aiming for a quadruple this season, won the first major trophy of Hansi Flick’s reign as coach and a record-extending 32nd Spanish cup in dramatic fashion.

Three Real Madrid players were sent off during and after a fiery conclusion to the game, including England international Jude Bellingham.

Pedri sent Barcelona ahead at La Cartuja but two Real Madrid goals in seven second-half minutes, from Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, pulled the Spanish and European champions level.

However, Ferran Torres struck in the 84th minute to take the game to extra-time and Kounde drilled home to win it for the La Liga leaders.

“Madrid pushed us to our limits but we showed great character and pride,” said Kounde.

Barcelona host Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

“They can make a party — for today, it’s OK,” a delighted Flick, who has won all seven finals he has coached in his career, told Movistar.

Substituted Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was sent off in the final seconds for “throwing an object” onto the pitch towards referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, according to the official’s report, and Lucas Vazquez, also replaced, was dismissed for further protest as Madrid unravelled.

Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle for showing an “aggressive attitude” towards the referee, who wrote that the midfielder “had to be restrained by his team-mates”.

“I don’t want to talk about the referee,” said stone-faced Madrid coach Ancelotti.

“I don’t know what happened at the end.”

Madrid had issued furious statements about the refereeing team on Friday after they criticised the club’s television channel for attacking Spanish officials this season, casting a shadow over the game.

Controversy aside, the football was enthralling.

Madrid started with top scorer Mbappe on the bench after an ankle injury and lost Ferland Mendy early on with a thigh issue.

Barcelona dazzling winger Lamine Yamal, 17, dyed his hair blond for the game and led the assault on Thibaut Courtois’ goal.

The Catalans, who also won the first two Clasicos this season in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, scoring nine goals in the process, controlled the ball.

They took the lead after 28 minutes, Pedri placing the ball into the top corner with precision and power from the edge of the box, a sensational goal set up by Yamal.

Barcelona’s opener brought Madrid out of their shell — and also Mbappe off the bench to warm up.

Bellingham netted but was offside. Vinicius Junior would have won a penalty when hacked down but had also strayed off in the build-up.

Barcelona could have doubled their lead, with Dani Olmo’s corner hitting the post and Cubarsi unable to turn home as Dani Ceballos held him back.

The referee was lenient with some heated Madrid tackles, perhaps cowed by Friday’s drama as the Spanish champions seethed at his pre-match comments.

Madrid sent Mbappe on for Rodrygo Goes at half-time and soon he and Vinicius began to work Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Mbappe pulled Madrid level almost on his own in the 70th minute, brought down after surging forward and firing home the free-kick off the post.

Seven minutes later Madrid took the lead, Tchouameni heading in Arda Guler’s corner.

Barcelona responded when Yamal played a delicious pass over the top for Torres, which drew both Rudiger and Courtois, but the Spaniard beat both and rolled home.

Controversy unsurprisingly reared its head before the match headed to extra-time.

Barcelona clamoured for a penalty when Rudiger tripped Torres, and then were awarded one deep in stoppage time as Raphinha tumbled under pressure — but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.

In extra-time Barcelona were ascendent.

They found their winner when Kounde intercepted an uncharacteristically loose Luka Modric pass and beat Courtois from range, sparking wild celebrations.

The trio of dismissals and Madrid’s pre-match histrionics regarding the officials will ensure the repercussions run on.

The teams meet again in La Liga in May in a potential title decider.

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Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are closing in on a potential quadruple this season, but blocking their path are eternal rivals Real Madrid.

Although the Catalan giants, also in the Champions League semi-finals, are widely considered the best team in Spain at the moment, Carlo Ancelotti’s faltering Los Blancos could claim both domestic titles still on the line.

Madrid trail leaders Barcelona by four points in La Liga, with another Clasico to come in May, but first the Spanish giants butt heads in Seville on Saturday in the Copa del Rey final.

Flick’s Barcelona have emphatically bested Madrid on the two prior occasions they have met this season, first winning 4-0 in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu in October.

Then Barca dismantled Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia in January, roaring to a 5-2 victory to claim the first trophy of the Flick era.

Barcelona outplayed Madrid in both games, but their German coach had nothing but praise for his Italian counterpart.

“Real Madrid has an incredible team and one of the best coaches in the world… He (Ancelotti) has won everything,” said Flick on Tuesday.

“He’s a gentleman… I have the highest respect. On Saturday, we play the final against Real Madrid and, of course, against Carlo.”

Ancelotti will need to find ways to shut down Pedri in midfield as well as dynamic wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

Real Madrid have lost 12 matches this season, compared to just two across all competitions in the previous campaign.

Barcelona breezed past Real Betis and edged Atletico Madrid on the way to the final at La Cartuja stadium, their first since 2021, when they beat Athletic Bilbao.

Real Madrid, who last won the trophy in 2023, needed an extra-time goal from Antonio Rudiger to beat Real Sociedad 5-4 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

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After Madrid’s Champions League elimination by Arsenal earlier this month, they are desperate to beat Barcelona and claim some silverware as well as restore their pride.

Both sides have lost important players in the run-up to the game.

Barcelona are without top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski and left-back Alejandro Balde, while Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga was ruled out for the rest of the season on Thursday with a groin injury.

French superstar Kylian Mbappe missed Madrid’s nervy 1-0 win at Getafe on Wednesday as he recovers from an ankle problem, but Ancelotti said he is expected to be fit to face Barca.

Mbappe was whistled by Madrid fans during their win over Athletic Bilbao last weekend when his face appeared on the screens at the Bernabeu, and he will be hoping to lift his first major trophy with the club, following European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup wins.

When Madrid have lined up with Mbappe alongside Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, sometimes the team suffers at the back.

“Maybe they are the favourites, but a final is a final and anything can happen,” said Ancelotti.

“We have to defend well, and I am convinced that we will defend well and have opportunities in attack.”

Barcelona will likely line up with Gerard Martin at left-back, replacing Balde, which is an area Madrid can exploit, perhaps through Rodrygo, although the Brazilian has not scored in his last 11 matches.

“On a statistical level, he has to play because if he’s not scored in all that time, well, he has to sooner or later,” joked Ancelotti. “In these type of matches he always scores and I believe in him completely.”

Rodrygo netted both goals as Madrid beat Osasuna to win the Copa del Rey two years ago, the club’s 20th.

Barcelona are the all-time record winners with 31 triumphs, ahead of current holders Athletic Bilbao with 24, with Madrid third.

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Barcelona are through to the Champions League semi-finals with a 5-3 aggregate win, despite losing 3-1 at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday with Serhou Guirassy hitting a hat-trick.

Holding a 4-0 lead after a dominant performance in Catalonia, the visitors were made to sweat as Dortmund and Guirassy nearly pulled off a stunning turnaround.

Guirassy put Dortmund in front with a Panenka from the spot with 11 minutes gone and headed them two goals clear early in the second half.

Dortmund sensed a sensation, but Barcelona hit back, Fermin Lopez forcing Ramy Bensebaini into an own goal with just over half an hour remaining.

Guirassy reignited Dortmund’s belief with a third on the 76th-minute mark, and the final stages may have been different had Julian Brandt not been offside before scoring with 11 minutes remaining.

Despite losing their first competitive game in 2025, Barcelona are through to the semis, keeping their dream of a remarkable treble alive, 10 years after last completing the feat by winning the Champions League in Berlin.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised Dortmund’s performance and said his side “need to focus on the positive, not the negatives”.

“What the team has shown in the past few weeks is incredible. We’ve got a lot ahead of us this season. We’re a step further, but we’re not even close to the end,” added the German.

Barcelona, considered title favourites, will face either Inter Milan or Bayern Munich in the final four.

Clearly outclassed in the first leg, Borussia Dortmund will take inspiration from Tuesday’s performance, not least the goal-scoring form of Guirassy.

The 29-year-old Guinean, who has spent most of his career bouncing between the first and second divisions in Germany and France, now has 13 Champions League goals this season- more than any other player.

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“I’m proud of what we were able to do. Barcelona are a strong team, but we fought until the death. We showed what we can do,” Guirassy said to Amazon Prime.

Despite a big first-leg lead, Hansi Flick made good on his pre-match pledge to continue attacking, opting against resting any of his attacking trident of Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal or Raphinha.

With coach Niko Kovac admitting Dortmund needed a “miracle” to reach the semis after the debacle in Catalonia, the hosts’ task got a little harder when captain and centre-back Emre Can was ruled out with injury just before the match.

But Dortmund raced out of the blocks, Guirassy and strike partner Maximilian Beier going close inside the opening 10 minutes before Pascal Gross was the victim of a clumsy foul in the box by Wojciech Szczesny.

Guirassy stepped up to the spot and was nerveless, calmly unleashing a Panenka to get the hosts underway.

Borussia Dortmund sliced Barcelona open repeatedly without reward until half-time but made it count four minutes into the second-half, with Guirassy heading in a Ramy Bensebaini assist from a corner.

With Dortmund’s 81,355-strong Westfalenstadion smelling blood, Barcelona’s familiar response was to send their attack down the right, and the move paid off almost immediately.

After Yamal’s cross was half-cleared, Fermin Lopez found himself in the teenager’s channel, whipping a pass towards Lewandowski, which Bensebaini hit into his own net.

With Barcelona content to control possession as the clock wound down, Guirassy relit the hosts’ hopes when he scored his third in the final quarter of an hour, blasting in from close range after some delightful dribbling from teenage winger Julian Duranville.

The home fans erupted when Brandt scored three minutes later, but the midfielder was offside, allowing Barcelona a breather.

Barcelona managed to hold on despite waves of energetic Dortmund attacks in the final stages to remain on track for the treble.

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Barcelona battled back from two goals down to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 and land an important blow in the La Liga title race on Sunday.

Lamine Yamal struck in the 92nd minute and Ferran Torres in the 98th to help take the Catalans back top of the table after Real Madrid beat Villarreal on Saturday to briefly claim pole position.

Barcelona have a game in hand on the champions with both sides level on 60 points, while Atletico trail the top two by four after they crumbled at home against Hansi Flick’s side to end a disastrous week following their Champions League elimination.

“How we play, the confidence we have, it’s really good to see,” said Flick, whose team are fighting for a potential treble.

“We will try everything to win trophies, the match today gives us more confidence.”

Having twice been caught out late by Atletico this season, this time it was Barcelona’s turn to provide the sting in the tail, extending their unbeaten streak to 18 matches across all competitions.

Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth put Atletico ahead before Robert Lewandowski and Torres hit back for Barca, who went on to win in stoppage time.

“I think that after the anger, the feeling of impotence, not being comfortable in the game, we put our best foot forward and gave the best that we have,” Yamal told DAZN.

“It was a very important game to win in the end, beating Atletico was a statement win, we put ourselves back as leaders having played a game fewer and we’re very happy.”

Flick had warned his players to stay focussed after they conceded a 96th minute goal in December to surrender the lead at the top of the table to Atletico in a 2-1 home defeat.

Barcelona also conceded two late goals in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg to draw 4-4 against Diego Simeone’s side in February.

Barcelona’s best chance of the first half came towards the end of it, when Pedri played in Lewandowski, who hit the top of the crossbar with a powerful drive. From the resulting goal kick, Atletico found the opener.

The hosts worked the ball to Antoine Griezmann, who threaded a brilliant pass across the area to Giuliano Simeone, with Alvarez finishing from his cut-back.

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It provided a moment of joy for the former Manchester City striker who felt deep frustration in midweek when his penalty against Real Madrid was controversially disallowed for a supposed double touch on the ball, as Atletico were eliminated in the Champions League last 16.

Simeone turned to his bench to freshen up his side after the draining Champions League defeat. The coach introduced Sorloth and Conor Gallagher and they combined for Atletico’s second goal.

Atletico put together another fine team move with Griezmann heavily involved, before Gallagher squared to perennial super-sub Sorloth to net his 11th league goal of the season, despite just nine starts.

Barcelona had complaints about a Rodrigo De Paul handball in the build-up dismissed and they turned their anger into an instant response.

Martinez drove forward with the ball and slung it into the box for Lewandowski, who controlled well and powered a low finish past Oblak to spark the comeback.

Substitute Torres soon netted the equaliser when Raphinha crossed from the right.

With Atletico shaken, Barcelona took full advantage, with Yamal’s deflected shot from distance sending them ahead in stoppage time.

“We have to congratulate our opponent, they had a good game and in the end were very effective with their chances,” said Simeone.

“They had that bit of luck which you have to have, in the deflection for Yamal’s goal for 3-2.”

Torres bagged his second late on to round off a win which could prove decisive come the end of the season.

“It was a strange game because we did well in the first half, we had them under control and scored two goals… it’s true the 120 minutes in the Champions League weighed on us, and in the end the team fell apart,” said Atletico’s Llorente.

“We will fight to the end (for La Liga), we have seen many times how things change, you have a good month and someone else has a bad one, and you turn it all around.”

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Barcelona made sure of second place in the Champions League on Wednesday after being held to a 2-2 draw by plucky Atalanta, who failed in their mission for direct qualification for the last 16.

Hansi Flick’s team finished the new single league phase second on 19 points, ahead of Arsenal and Inter Milan on goal difference thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo.

Barcelona had the chance to claim the top spot after Liverpool lost at PSV Eindhoven and twice went ahead but were pegged back in the 67th and 79th minutes by Ederson and Mario Pasalic.

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The match looked set for a grandstand finish when Pasalic poked home Marten de Roon’s pass but the Italians’ hopes of a historic win at the Montjuic Olympic stadium vanished when Giorgio Scalvini was stretchered off after falling awkwardly on his shoulder with three minutes remaining.

Defender Scalvini, who has missed most of the Champions League season with a serious knee injury, left the field moments after Atalanta made their last substitution of the evening, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini’s team with 10 men for the final minutes.

Barcelona will now face one of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco or Brest in the last 16 while Atalanta will have to brave the play-offs after dropping out of the top eight and finishing ninth.

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Barcelona blew away a miserable Valencia 7-1 on Sunday to get back on track in La Liga with a ruthless victory.

Fermin Lopez struck twice for the Catalans in the first half, along with goals from Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres and Raphinha which gave Barcelona a commanding five-goal lead at the break.

Hugo Duro pulled one back early in the second half before Robert Lewandowski pounced for Barca, followed by a Cesar Tarrega own goal, with the third-placed hosts earning just their second win in their last nine league matches.

Hansi Flick’s side trail La Liga leaders Real Madrid by seven points and second-placed Atletico Madrid by three.

“I think in La Liga we were in a bad dynamic and we needed this win, it’s very important and now we have to keep fighting,” Lopez told DAZN.

“The coach says everyone in the team is important, and whoever is playing we have to be up to it — that’s what being a team is and that’s how we can compete for the title.

“There’s still a long way to go and we will fight until the end.”

Flick shuffled his pack against Valencia in order to spark a response given the club’s poor domestic form.

The coach began with Lewandowski and Ronald Araujo on the bench, while Pedri was absent because of a stomach bug, leading to De Jong, Ferran Torres and the superb Lopez all starting.

It took just three minutes for De Jong to open the scoring, with teenage star Lamine Yamal crossing for him in the area virtually unmarked, and he fired home.

Barcelona soon had their second, with Torres tucking home from Alejandro Balde’s cross, in similar fashion to the first goal but from the opposite flank.

The hosts moved three goals ahead in the 14th minute when Lopez clipped a fine ball over the top for Raphinha to run onto.

The Brazilian winger rounded Giorgi Mamardashvili and rolled home for his 12th league goal of the season.

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Valencia, without the suspended Cristhian Mosquera, were struggling badly in defence and Barcelona broke in seemingly at will.

Lopez collected a perfectly measured Pau Cubarsi long pass for the fourth and although it was initially ruled offside, the decision was corrected by VAR.

Valencia thought they had won a penalty when Wojciech Szczesny brought down Hugo Duro but play was eventually brought back for a foul on Jules Kounde after another video review.

Lopez rattled home the fifth on the volley before half-time when Raphinha’s effort hit the post and fell nicely for him with the goalkeeper stranded.

Hugo Duro pulled one back for Valencia before the hour mark from Diego Lopez’s low cross and Flick responded by sending on La Liga’s top goalscorer Lewandowski.

The Polish forward finished clinically for his 17th league goal of the season after being sent through by Lopez for Barca’s sixth on the night.

Barcelona netted their seventh when Torres’ hammered cross was deflected into his own net by Tarrega.

“For me it was the perfect match,” Flick told reporters. “(Fermin) today showed how good he was… he attacked everything and defended very well, with the ball he was unbelievable.”

Seven goals did not flatter Barcelona by any means and the thrashing is a setback for Carlos Corberan’s Valencia, 19th and four points from safety.

“I feel angry and sad for all the people who came to see us, all the fans watching at home, we have to say sorry because we weren’t up to the level of the game or the shirt that we represent,” said Valencia defender Jose Gaya.

“It was an enormous step backwards, we have to ask for forgiveness… we have to feel hurt after this, we can’t forget it, we have to focus that energy and rage into the next game.”

Earlier Athletic Bilbao, fourth, could only produce a 0-0 draw at home against Leganes, and now trail Barcelona by two points.

Relegation-battling Getafe earned an impressive 3-0 win at Real Sociedad to climb to 14th, while Rayo Vallecano came from behind to beat Girona 2-1.

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