Barcelona have leapfrogged holders Atletico Madrid on the Spanish La Liga standings following their 4-2 home win over the capital club at the weekend. The Catalan giants overcame some challenges to secure an important win in the race for Champions League football.
Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are in the race for Champions League football in La Liga this season alongside other teams such as Real Sociedad, Real Betis and Villarreal.
Atletico Madrid had a nine-point lead over Barcelona ahead of their meeting at the Nou Camp on Sunday with the two teams occupying fourth and fifth positions. Home team Barcelona didn’t make the best of starts after Belgian international Yannick-Ferreira Carrasco shot Atletico Madrid into the lead on eight minutes, but their response to adversity was swift. Barcelona were behind for just two minutes with Spanish left-back Jordi Alba netting the equaliser off the assist from Brazilian right-backs Dani Alves. Barcelona took the lead for the first time in the game when teenage midfielder scored on 21 minutes and they took a big step towards getting the three points with the third goal from Uruguayan centre back Ronald Araujo two minutes before the half-time break. The goal from Araujo ensured that the Catalans went into the break with a 3-1 lead.
Dani Alves provided an assist in the first half and he was the recipient of the fourth Barcelona goal four minutes into the second half. The Brazil international would later get himself sent off in the 69th minute. Ex-Barcelona striker Luis Suarez had earlier pulled one back for Atletico Madrid in the 58th minute. Atletico Madrid could not recover the two-goal deficit against Barcelona with a man advantage in the final quarter of the game.
With the 4-2 win, Barcelona are now two points ahead of Atletico Madrid. Barcelona have replaced their opponents in fourth place, while they are now in the place of Barcelona in fifth spot.