Barcelona have strengthened their grip on the top of LaLiga, securing a 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid and ending Los Rojiblancos’ 13-game unbeaten league run. The win gives Barça a five-point advantage at the summit.

The game started at a frenetic pace, with chances at both ends inside the opening five minutes. Raphinha fired over an early effort, while Atletico’s Alex Baena was lively, making dangerous runs as the visitors sought to assert themselves. Despite Barcelona dominating possession, Atletico’s passing proved sharper. Midway through the first half, Baena’s perfectly timed run from the centre circle allowed him to slot home and give Atleti the lead.

Barcelona responded quickly. After sustained pressure, Raphinha found space to round Jan Oblak and score a well-worked equaliser just seven minutes later. The hosts continued to press, and Dani Olmo was brought down in the area by Pablo Barrios, but Robert Lewandowski’s penalty was sky-high, missing the target entirely. Oblak then denied Lewandowski again with a stunning save from a powerful header.

Barcelona came out firing in the second half, pressing relentlessly. Julian Alvarez had the first opportunity, but his chip was comfortably collected by Joan Garcia. Both Raphinha and Giuliano Simeone wasted promising chances, and Lewandowski narrowly missed a low cross from Raphinha.

The breakthrough eventually came when Olmo evaded his marker to slot home a left-footed finish, though he was immediately substituted for Ferran Torres due to injury. Baena had earlier been forced off with a hamstring injury. Torres sealed the win in stoppage time, firing home to cap a dominant performance and extinguish Atletico’s resistance.

The result further cements Barcelona’s recent dominance over Atletico, with the Catalans now unbeaten in nine of the last ten head-to-head league meetings (W8, D1). Their only loss in the corresponding fixture last season remains the only defeat in 20 LaLiga home meetings against the Madrid side (W14, D5).