A double from Fermín López saw Barcelona come from behind to defeat Atlético Madrid 2-1 on Sunday and restore their three-point lead at the top of LaLiga.
Real Madrid had drawn level with their rivals by beating Valencia on Saturday, and it appeared Atlético might be the ones heading into the international break on top after Giuliano Simeone gave them a deserved early lead.
But López equalised just before halftime and scored what proved to be the winner in the 66th minute.
Anthony Gordon was among the starters for Barcelona, who were without the injured Rodri, but it was Atlético who began much the better.
Julián Álvarez probably should have put the hosts ahead in the sixth minute when he was played through one-on-one with Joan García.
He tried to go around the keeper, but Garcia did enough to hold him up and push him wide and the chance eventually evaporated.
Atleti came even closer moments later when Marc Pubill sent a powerful header against the crossbar, while at the other end Barça’s first meaningful effort saw Pedri also strike the bar with a shot from the edge of the box.
A breathless start continued as Atletico took a 10th-minute lead, with Álvarez turning provider on the left and crossing for Simeone to tuck away a straightforward finish.
A minute’s applause and a pause in the game followed in tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus De Miguel following his death last week, with players also wearing T-shirts in his honour.
The game restarted with Barça trying to find a foothold, and López saw a shot blocked before Lamine Yamal cut in from the right and forced Jan Oblak into a save.
Álvarez almost grabbed a second for Atlético after he was played in by Simeone, with his shot going through the legs of Garcia but gathered gratefully by the Barça keeper before it crossed the line.
The visitors found their equaliser just before the break, López showing his finisher’s instinct with a quick-fire shot inside the post from just inside the area after the ball fell to him.
The pressure from Barça began to grow after the break, with Yamal trying his luck on a couple of occasions.
Álvarez had another great opening in the 55th minute when he was again played clean through but this time he chose to try to lob Garcia with an early shot and sent his effort over the bar — to the disgruntlement of some of the home fans.
López was not so charitable 11 minutes later when he was found by a fine through ball from Yamal, the striker sweeping a first-time shot past Oblak to put Hansi Flick’s side ahead.
And the hosts were unable to find any meaningful response as Barça celebrated a notable victory.
