MADRID (AP) — Barcelona increased its lead at the top of the Spanish League by coming from behind to beat Atlético Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday, with Dani Olmo scoring the decisive go-ahead goal but injuring his shoulder in the action.
Olmo injured his left shoulder in a fall after scoring with a left foot in the 65th minute for Barça’s second goal at the Camp Nou stadium. Atlético had struck first with Álex Baena’s goal in the 19th minute and Raphinha equalized for the hosts in the 26th.
Olmo showed visible pain after falling and was unable to celebrate the goal that left the Catalans four points ahead of Real Madrid. The Barça attacking midfielder was immediately substituted and had to be assisted off the field by the club’s medical staff.
The matchday 19 match was brought forward because the teams will play in the Spanish Super Cup in January. Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, who will also play in the Super Cup, will meet in Bilbao on Wednesday.
“We gain confidence game by game,” said Raphina. “Today, yes, it was key. Points like that can decide a League.”
Fourth-place Atlético was six points behind Barça after 15 games. Diego Simeone’s team had won seven in a row in all competitions.
“Barcelona played a great game. They also had chances. We tried, but unfortunately it wasn’t possible,” said Colchonero goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
“We ended a very good streak. Let’s move forward,” he added.
Barcelona continues to play at a Camp Nou that cannot be filled to capacity due to a lack of permits after its vast renovation.
Baena put the visitors ahead on a counterattack after receiving a through pass from Argentine Nahuel Molina that surprised the Barça defense. The goal had to be confirmed after a video review for possible offside.
Raphinha equalized by capitalizing on a good filtered pass from Pedri. The Brazilian striker beat Oblak inside the box before finding an empty net.
Barça could have taken the lead in the 36th after Olmo was brought down by Pablo Barrios inside the area, leading to a penalty, but Robert Lewandowski sent his shot from the spot well over the crossbar in a rare miss for the veteran Polish striker.
Argentine Thiago Almada almost equalized for Atlético in the 80th after beating a pair of rival defenders inside the area. Ferran Torres, who replaced Olmo, sealed the victory for the Catalan club in injury time.
Both teams lost players due to apparent injuries in the second half. Barç saw Pedri leave in the 74th and Atlético took out Baena in the 63rd.
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