Lopez double fires Barcelona to win at Atletico Madrid

Fermin Lopez scored twice as Barcelona overcame an early deficit at Atletico Madrid to win 2-1 and go three points clear at the top of La Liga. Barca’s win takes them three points clear of second-placed Real Madrid and five ahead of Atletico, in third, after 12 games. Giuliano Simeone opened the scoring in the 10th minute for the home side, turning home a close range volley from Julian Alvarez’s cross from the left.

The home side had a series of early chances as they sought to register an eighth straight win, but Fermin swept in an equaliser on the cusp of halftime after a ball broke to him in the box. “It was a very difficult match. The first half was tough, but we managed to come from behind and secure the win,” Barcelona midfielder Lopez told La Liga TV after the match.

“We wanted to go into the break as league leaders and get three points. The equaliser lifted a weight off our shoulders, and we had more control. “We knew at halftime that we had to continue playing the way we finished the first half.