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FC Barcelona strengthened their position at the top of La Liga on Tuesday with an important 3–1 win over Atletico Madrid, creating a four-point lead in the standings. The match was intense from the start, with both teams pushing hard for control, but Barcelona’s composure and efficiency in the second half made the difference.
Atletico struck first, surprising Barcelona with an early goal that briefly shifted the momentum in their favour. The visitors looked confident, pressing high and trying to disrupt Barcelona’s build-up play. For a moment, it seemed like the league leaders might be unsettled. However, Barcelona responded with patience and confidence, slowly regaining control of the ball and pushing Atletico deeper into their own half.
Before halftime, Raphinha brought Barcelona level with a well-taken goal, calming the nerves of the home crowd. His equalizer changed the direction of the match, giving Barcelona renewed belief heading into the break.
The second half belonged mainly to Barcelona. Dani Olmo completed the comeback in the 65th minute, finishing off a smooth attacking move that cut through Atletico’s defensive line. His goal lifted the energy inside the stadium and put Barcelona firmly in command. Unfortunately, Olmo’s night ended on a worrying note, as he later left the field with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. It was one of the team’s biggest concerns of the evening, especially because the squad has already been dealing with several fitness problems.
Pedri also limped off later in the match, adding to Barcelona’s injury worries. Even so, the team kept pushing for a decisive goal to secure all three points. Ferran Torres provided it in the final minutes, scoring Barcelona’s third after a clever and fast build-up that involved precise work on the left side. His goal sealed the victory and removed any remaining doubts about the result.
Earlier in the match, Barcelona had a chance to take the lead when Robert Lewandowski stepped up to take a penalty. However, he missed, keeping the score tight until Olmo’s second-half breakthrough. Atletico, despite being under pressure, almost equalized at one point when Thiago Almada broke free and came very close to scoring. His shot missed just wide, a moment that could have changed the entire match.
While Barcelona celebrated their victory, attention in La Liga shifted to the next major fixture. Real Madrid were preparing for their trip to face an injury-hit Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night — a match that could influence the title race depending on the outcome.
Elsewhere in Spain, the Copa del Rey continued with several second-round matches. Deportivo Alaves enjoyed a comfortable 3–0 win against fifth-tier Portugalete, securing a place in the last 32 without much difficulty. Mallorca also earned a hard-fought 3–2 win away to Numancia, with Abdon Prats scoring twice. Mallorca had to survive a tense final stretch after Numancia pulled a goal back, but they held firm to move on.
In another lively encounter, Osasuna came from behind to beat Ebro 5–3. Raul Garcia led the way with two goals, while Moi Gomez, Sheraldo Becker and Victor Munoz also found the net. Despite getting the win, the match again highlighted Osasuna’s ongoing struggles in away games, something the team will need to improve as the competition grows tougher.
Overall, the night belonged to Barcelona, who not only earned a valuable league victory but also demonstrated resilience, creativity and determination — qualities they’ll need to maintain as the season continues.