12/02/25 04:47:00
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12/02 16:43 CST Dani Olmo scores and gets injured as Barcelona beats Atletico
Madrid 3-1
Dani Olmo scores and gets injured as Barcelona beats Atletico Madrid 3-1
By TALES AZZONI
AP Sports Writer
MADRID (AP) --- Barcelona increased its Spanish league lead by coming from
behind to beat Atletico Madrid 3-1 on Tuesday, with Dani Olmo scoring the
go-ahead goal but hurting his shoulder in the process.
Olmo injured his left shoulder in a fall after sending a left-footed strike
into the net in the 65th minute for Barcelona's second goal at Camp Nou
stadium. Atletico had opened the scoring with Alex Baena, and Raphinha
equalized for the hosts in the first half.
Olmo was in visible pain after going down and couldn't celebrate the goal that
left Barcelona four points ahead of Real Madrid. The Barcelona playmaker was
immediately substituted and had to be assisted off the field by the club's
medical staff.
The 19th-round match was moved forward because the teams will be playing in the
Spanish Super Cup in January. Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, who will also
play in the Super Cup, will meet in Bilbao on Wednesday.
"It was a key match and these three points were important," Raphinha said after
Barcelona's fifth straight league win. "They could help decide the league in
the end."
Atletico, sitting in fourth place, dropped six points behind Barcelona after 15
matches. Diego Simeone's team had won seven in a row in all competitions.
"Bara played better," Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak said. "We had a couple of
chances to equalize but we couldn't get it done. Unfortunately this ends our
good run, but we have to lift our heads and move on."
Barcelona is still playing at a Camp Nou that can't be filled to capacity
because of the lack of permits following its major renovation work.
Baena put the visitors ahead in a breakaway in the 19th after picking up a long
pass by Nahuel Molina behind the Barcelona defense. The goal had to be
confirmed after a video-review check for offside.
Raphinha equalized in the 26th after a nice through ball from Pedri. The Brazil
forward cleared Oblak inside the area before finding the open net.
Barcelona had a chance to move ahead in the 36th after Olmo was fouled by Pablo
Barrios inside the area to prompt a penalty kick, but Robert Lewandowski sent
his shot from the spot way over the crossbar in a rare miss for the veteran
Poland striker.
Thiago Almada nearly equalized for Atletico in the 80th after clearing a couple
of Barcelona defenders inside the area. Ferran Torres, who replaced Olmo,
sealed the victory for Barcelona deep into stoppage time.
Both teams lost players because of apparent injuries in the second half.
Barcelona saw Pedri go out in the 74th and Atletico had Baena substituted in
the 63rd.
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