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Barcelona move seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of Spanish football\u2019s La Liga after beating Atletico 2-1.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Published On 4 Apr 2026<\/span>4 Apr 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Robert Lewandowski shouldered home a dramatic late winner for Barcelona as they edged Atletico Madrid 2-1 to move seven points clear at the top of La Liga after Real Madrid slipped up.<\/p>\n Second-placed Real were beaten 2-1 at Mallorca earlier on Saturday, and Barca capitalised at the Metropolitano stadium to take a big step towards defending the league title.<\/p>\n list of 4 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n Marcus Rashford pulled Barca level after Giuliano Simeone opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half.<\/p>\n Atletico midfielder Nico Gonzalez was sent off just before the break, and his team dug deep with 10 men to try and avoid defeat, which they almost managed.<\/p>\n Veteran Polish striker Lewandowski had other ideas and used his shoulder to deflect home a rebound from point-blank range after 87 minutes.<\/p>\n With little left to play for in La Liga, Atletico coach Diego Simeone rotated heavily, with Wednesday\u2019s visit to Camp Nou in mind.<\/p>\n His Barca counterpart, Hansi Flick, opted for Dani Olmo as a false nine to rest Lewandowski, while starting Rashford in place of the injured Raphinha on the left wing.<\/p>\n The England international, on loan from Manchester United, tested Juan Musso early on with a free-kick, which the goalkeeper fielded comfortably.<\/p>\n At the other end, Antoine Griezmann, playing for Atletico for the first time since announcing his departure at the end of the season to MLS side Orlando City, was profligate.<\/p>\n The forward skipped into the box and cleverly nutmegged Gerard Martin, but his shot was too close to Barca stopper Joan Garcia to trouble the new Spain international.<\/p>\n Fermin Lopez was similarly wasteful at the other end, unable to find Rashford, who had a clear sight of goal, and prodding wide himself when Lamine Yamal sent him scuttling through with a sensational pass.<\/p>\n Barca\u2019s 18-year-old star Yamal hit the post with a dinked effort after Lopez laid the ball off to him as the game flowed from end to end.<\/p>\n Atletico took the lead in the 39th minute through Giuliano Simeone, the coach\u2019s son, bursting in behind Barca\u2019s high defensive line onto Clement Lenglet\u2019s pass and slamming past Garcia.<\/p>\n The visitors pulled level just three minutes later, Rashford exchanging passes with Olmo and drilling past Musso on only his third league start since January.<\/p>\n Atletico were reduced to 10 men just before half-time, when Gonzalez scythed down Yamal on the edge of the box as he ran towards goal.<\/p>\n Barcelona defender Martin was dismissed early in the second half as he thumped the ball away, but then clattered Thiago Almada with a high foot. However, after a VAR review, the red card was revoked, much to Atletico\u2019s fury.<\/p>\n Barca substitute Ferran Torres, without a goal since January, was twice thwarted by Musso as the visitors probed for a winner but struggled to make their numerical advantage count.<\/p>\n Eventually, their winner came when Joao Cancelo cut his way into the penalty area, and his cross-shot was pushed out by Musso, only for wily striker Lewandowski to knock it home with his shoulder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n
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