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Barca suffer back-to-back LALIGA losses

FC Barcelona lost top spot in LALIGA standings after a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Saturday evening.

Barca were without the injured Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo, who was only fit to start from the bench, from the defeat against Leganes, as Gavi and Fermin Lopez took their places in the line-up.

The sides restricted each other in the early stages, with no clear opportunities until 26 minutes after Gavi could not find the target for Blaugrana, with a free header from close-range following a cross by Raphinha.

Marcus Sorg's charges gained momentum as Pedri broke the deadlock a moment later after he picked his spot with a shot in the box from a pass by Gavi.

Diego Simeone's troops raised the level of their attacking intensity, however, the visitors went to the interval without testing goalkeeper Inaki Pena, as Barca took a narrow lead to the break.

The Catalan giants were quick off the blocks from the interval as Lopez was unfortunate not to double their lead with a first-time shot that was saved by shot-stopper Jan Oblak with his feet.

Atletico changed their fortunes around the hour-mark after Rodrigo de Paul equalised with a strike from a rebound in the box.

Sorg immediately made a double attacking change, as Ferran Torres and Olmo both came on for Gavi and Lopez for fresh legs.

Simeone's men, however, were dangerous on counter-attacks with 15 minutes to go as Pablo Barrios had a big chance after going through on goal but his low shot was saved by Pena with his leg from point-blank-range, in a one-on-one.

Barcelona had the momentum in the dying minutes and after missing a couple of clear chances, they were punished in transition in added time after Alexander Sorloth converted a cross by Nahuel Molina with a strike into the top corner.

Atletico leapfrogged Barca at the top of the log by three points and won away against Blaugrana for the first time since 2006.

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