MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 08: Fermin Lopez of FC Barcelona celebrates their team’s second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on November 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Luis Mazariegos Luis Mazariegos has been a lead writer and editor for Barca Blaugranes since 2012, bringing tactical analysis, transfer reports, opinion columns, and investigative coverage to the SB Nation network. An award-winning journalist, he has held press credentials for Champions League and La Liga fixtures – reporting live from the stadium, press box, and press conferences. He frequently provides commentary as a guest on football podcasts and radio shows. In addition to his sports media work, Luis spent over a decade in broadcast television and currently serves as an editor for a major digital news network.
FC Barcelona avoided what could have been a crisis by defeating Atlético Madrid in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory. After a perfect start to the season, Barça slipped to defeats to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League and Real Madrid in La Liga. Those were two survivable wounds, but worse was the implied underlying question: Can Barcelona win big games?
Three straight losses against top-tier opposition would’ve provoked a panic. And there was a moment where it looked almost likely to happen. Barcelona trailed 1-0 from the opening stages and looked unsure of themselves. Right before the half, Fermín López found a ball rebounded back to him in an opportune position and bent it past the keeper.
Thanks in part due to good substitutions by Hansi Flick, Barcelona seemed calmer in the second half. They got their just rewards when Lamine Yamal played a great throughball for Fermín to latch onto and smash past the opposing keeper to make it 2-1.
Atlético had some chances to claw back an equalizer, but over time, they seemed to tire out. Barcelona played keep-ball for the final minutes and won a crucial win.
Instead of a crisis, Barcelona now feel back on track. They have not conclusively avenged the losses in big games, but they have shown they are capable of it.