Sørloth the hero for Atletico as late winner sinks Barcelona to further continue their stuttering run of form.
Sørloth stuns Barcelona with last-gasp winner for Atlético Madrid.
The last seconds of the fight that was supposed to determine the title were slipping away when Sørloth, who appeared to be a Norse warrior struck the decisive strike, ninety-five minutes into the fight. In reality, Atletico Madrid had likely wished for the final whistle to blow, suffered, and resisted.
Alexander Sørloth then unexpectedly hammered in another late winner. By doing this, he sent Atletico Madrid’s coach, employees and substitutes running onto the pitch after they won the Christmas table.
Unbelieving at what had just transpired, Barcelona’s supporters turned and made a beeline for the exit. What had happened was that they had been defeated by Pedri on a night when they had hit the bar and had plenty of chances to win, especially late in extra time, when goalie Jan Oblak had been the finest player on the field. They have now lost here in La Liga three times in a row, and it was painful since it was the first time they had ever lost to an Atletico squad led by Diego Simeone.
Atlético, on the other hand, saw it as a liberation—possibly even the call of fate. Oblak referred to it as the “perfect night,” as those sent into the battle from the bench ensured yet another triumph. This was the most exciting of the eleven goals that substitutes have scored this season. The most important, of course. How suddenly, and how quickly, this had changed. How important it is, not only today but throughout the season.
Since the end of October, both of these teams’ lives had altered, and the league had evolved along with them. Barcelona had experienced what Hansi Flick called “shit November,” but they had also lost in December and at home against Leganes, who were in danger of relegation. They had only scored five out of eighteen points during the course of six games.
Atletico, meanwhile, had won 11 in a row, six out of six in la Liga. From 10 points down, they had moved level with a game in hand, the title in play.
Barca brought a level of energy to everything they did that had been lacking lately to Atletico. Raphinha, who swung in multiple deliveries, led the charge together with Gavi and Fermín López. As if he could both bring the storm and let it roll past him, Pedri was playing behind him at a pace that was both quick and sluggish.
He opened the scoring shortly before the break, which seemed appropriate. He started from the left, slid inside, and then played the ball to Gavi before continuing to sprint. If he had meant it, Gavi’s return to him would have been a stunning first-time touch on the turn, but it was probably just luck. Pedri spotted it first, anyway. He guided the shot beyond Oblak and into the bottom corner.
This was more akin to the big-night Barcelona. Conor Gallagher had already had to intervene twice to thwart Raphinha, stopping his run right before the goal and blocking a shot on two minutes. Nevertheless, Raphinha eventually exacted a brief retribution on Gallagher by using a nutmeg.
Instead of a reaction, the second half delivered a second wave, and Pedri was in charge of the tide. In the first minute, he played in Fermín, but Oblak saved with his foot and clipped a great pass that put Raphinha out of reach. The Brazilian should have scored, but the ball bounced off the bar as he hoisted it over the goalie. There were others besides him.
Just not like this. Imeone was getting ready for his first change, which usually happens when games change. Atletico has more goals from substitutes than any other side. That would turn out to be true the next time; this time, the threat was sufficient. Atlético suddenly drew level as Koke and Nahuel Molina stood waiting to be introduced. A likely withdrawn contender, Rodrigo De Paul, sent Álvarez reeling to the left, outside the defence. Marc Casadó sliced out his curled ball in, which only served to set it up for De Paul to sidefoot into the corner.
Since no one had scored more goals in the previous fifteen minutes than these two—13 for Atletico and 12 for Barcelona—a goal appeared imminent. It seems like Barcelona would be the most determined to find it if the question was who would arrive first, with the top of the table waiting for whoever did.
As the Olympic stadium stands up. Oblak miraculously saved the day, and Pedri came in a moment after, deftly managing Olmo’s ball through the foot forest. Surely this was it. However, the final line of Atlético’s resistance was Oblak, a massive figure. The Barcelona assistant coach, Marcus Sorg, was actually jumping up and down like Yosemite Sam on the touchline, unable to comprehend this.
The subsequent events were even less believable, with Sørloth providing an epic conclusion.