Barça pass their biggest test yet as Fermín López sinks Atlético Madrid

• Sam MarsdenNov 8, 2026, 06:30 PM ET

MADRID -- Fermín López produced two finishes of the highest quality as Barcelona came from behind to beat Atlético Madrid 2-1 on Sunday at the Metropolitano to claim their biggest win of the season so far.

It was a victory which was much needed after back-to-back defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in October. Barça had scored 60 goals in 15 games -- an average of four per match -- heading into this weekend's trip to Atlético, but those losses had raised question marks about whether they could step up against better opposition when it really matters.

Those questions may return at some point -- Atlético were the better side in the first half -- but Hansi Flick's side's reaction to those setbacks has been good. After hammering Alavés in LaLiga and beating Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League, victory against Diego Simeone's side ensured they remain the top of the league. With 11 wins from 12 games, they have a three-point cushion over Real Madrid, while Atlético are now five points back.

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The build-up to Sunday's game was dripping with narrative. Last season's meetings between the two teams were still very much present. Barça beat Atlético twice in LaLiga en route to back-to-back titles only to suffer painful eliminations to the Rojiblancos in the Copa del Rey and, especially, the Champions League.

However, the main focus was on Julián Álvarez. This was the first time the two teams had met since the Atleti striker tried to engineer a summer transfer to Barça. He missed several chances here, although he did set up the early opener for Giuliano Simeone.

Before the game, the home fans unveiled a giant tifo with the words "Mi dulce condena" -- "My sweet sentence" -- alongside an anonymous Atlético player behind bars. It felt like a nod to Álvarez being reluctantly forced to stay at the club after saying it would "be best for everyone" if a transfer could be agreed.

In a fast-paced start to the game, the Argentina international had a great early chance to make amends by opening the scoring. One-on-one with Joan García, he attempted to round the Barça goalkeeper, but was forced too wide and the chance was gone. Marc Pubill thumped the bar from the resulting corner; Pedri then hit the woodwork at the other end. This was all within seven minutes.

Three minutes later, Atlético led. A simple switch of play caused Barça's defence all sorts of problems, Álvarez squared and Simeone, who had lost João Cancelo, turned home.

Álvarez, after another Cancelo mistake, then saw another effort stopped by García, the ball snaking towards the line after the save but cleared by Barça eventually.

Barça grew into the game before the break, but there was still an element of surprise about their equaliser just before half-time. There was fortune in the set up, too, Fermín's attempted pass ricocheting back to him off Pubill, although there was no luck in the finish. The midfielder struck brilliantly beyond Jan Oblak's reach.

"The 1-1 was very important before the break," Flick said. "We were too far from the opponent in the first half, so it wasn't easy to get pressure on the ball. They always switched [play] against us; this is what we made in the second half much better."

A different Barça emerged after the break. Flick replaced youngster Brian Fariñas with Frenkie de Jong at right-back -- Barça used four different backlines during the game, although there were still no minutes for Alejandro Balde -- and the Netherlands midfielder's experience helped the Catalan side control the game.

Atlético were still a threat on the break, though. Álvarez, in again, opted to try and lob García rather than carry the ball into the box. The ball dropped onto the roof of the net.

Shortly after, Fermín had his and Barça's second, his eighth goal of the season on his 100th LaLiga appearance. Lamine Yamal's sumptuous pass picked him out and he finished wonderfully.

"The pass from Lamine was basically half a goal," Fermín said.

"We were not as clinical as on other days and Barça are very good in that sense," Atleti coach Simeone bemoaned. "They had fewer clear chances, but were clinical with the ones they had.

"But it was an extraordinary game from my players. It was the game we wanted to play, pressing well in the first half with good intensity. I am proud of the boys. I liked what I saw."

There was still one more chance for Álvarez -- who has apologised to Atleti fans for pushing to leave -- to save a point. His strike was deflected over, though.

"Julián had chances, but he also had the assist for Giuliano and the cross for Álex Baena late on," Simeone added. "He's a great player. We love him. And we need the best version of Julián if we are to get to where we want to."

That Baena opportunity and another for substitute Alexander Sørloth were the last for Atlético. Barça also could have scored a third, Yamal somehow not connecting with an Anthony Gordon cross to make it 3-1.

There was a confidence to the way Barça saw the game out with the ball. Pedri and De Jong looked especially comfortable. You could see what the victory meant to Flick, who is not always the most emotive manager on the sidelines. As the final whistle blew, he leapt into an embrace with his assistants, although he quickly composed himself to walk over and shake Simeone's hand.

He knows that beating Atlético will not compensate for those defeats to PSG and Madrid, but losing to them would have led to an inquisition during the international break.

"We have the quality to win these matches," Flick insisted. "It's not about that. I totally believe in this team. In the second half we did a great job. It's not easy to win here."