Fermin Lopez Scores Twice as Barcelona Beat Atletico 2-1
Barcelona came from a goal down at the Metropolitano to win 2-1, with Fermin Lopez scoring in the 45th and 66th minutes to put them three points clear at the top of LaLiga.
Key points
- Fermin Lopez scored twice as Barcelona came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday and move three points clear at the top of LaLiga.
- Giuliano Simeone put Atletico ahead in the 10th minute, turning in a cut-back from Julian Alvarez after a strong start from the home side.
- Barcelona controlled more of the game after the break.
Fermin Lopez scored twice as Barcelona came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday and move three points clear at the top of LaLiga.
Giuliano Simeone put Atletico ahead in the 10th minute, turning in a cut-back from Julian Alvarez after a strong start from the home side. Atletico had a series of early chances and held the lead for most of the first half. Fermin swept in the equaliser on the stroke of half time, in the 45th minute, after the ball broke back to him inside the box.
Yamal sets up the winner
Barcelona controlled more of the game after the break. The winner came in the 66th minute. Lamine Yamal played an incisive pass through the Atletico defence and Fermin finished first time across goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Fermin was substituted in the 74th minute, with Gavi replacing him. He finished with two goals from three shots, all of them on target. Yamal finished with one assist and four shots.
The numbers matched the result. Barcelona had 52 percent of possession to Atletico's 48 percent, and led the shots count 15 to 7, with five on target to Atletico's three. Joan Garcia made two saves for Barcelona and Oblak made three for Atletico. Corners finished 4 to 2 for Atletico, and the fouls count was 14 each. Diego Simeone coaches Atletico and Hansi Flick coaches Barcelona.
Why it matters
The win takes Barcelona to 33 points from 12 games. They sit three points ahead of second placed Real Madrid and five points ahead of Atletico in third, according to Reuters. Barcelona had scored the most goals in the league after 11 rounds, with 46, while Atletico had conceded the fewest, with eight. Scoring twice away at the league's tightest defence, after falling behind early, is the kind of result that holds up at the end of a title race.
Atletico will regret the first half. They led, created the early chances, and still went in level at the break. Once Barcelona moved ahead, the home side could not find a second goal.
What is next
Barcelona hold first place with the three point cushion, and Atletico stay third, five points back. Both sides now turn to their next league fixtures holding the positions this result set: Barcelona in control at the top, and Atletico needing wins to close a gap that grew on their own pitch.
Timeline
- Nov 8, 2026Giuliano Simeone scores in the 10th minute from a Julian Alvarez cut-back to put Atletico Madrid 1-0 up at the Metropolitano.
- Nov 8, 2026Fermin Lopez equalises for Barcelona in the 45th minute, just before half time. Half time: 1-1.
- Nov 8, 2026Fermin Lopez scores his second in the 66th minute from a Lamine Yamal pass to put Barcelona 2-1 ahead.
- Nov 8, 2026Full time: Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona. Barcelona move to 33 points, three clear at the top of LaLiga.