Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona to set up Spanish Super Cup final clash with rivals Real Madrid
Barcelona 2-3 Atletico Madrid: Late goals helped Diego Simeone's side come from behind to book a place in Sunday's final
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Atletico Madrid pulled off a stunning turnaround to beat Barcelona 3-2 in an enthralling Spanish Super Cup tie in Saudi Arabia and book their place in the final of the revamped competition where they will face Real Madrid.
Argentine forward Angel Correa struck the decisive goal in the 86th minute to complete an unlikely late comeback for Atletico after Barca had dominated the second half and had two goals ruled out following VAR reviews.
Substitute Koke had put Atletico in front at the start of the second half but Lionel Messi levelled in the 51st minute. Messi soon put the ball in the net again but his second effort was ruled out for handball following a VAR review.
Former Atletico striker Griezmann did put Barca in front in the 65th while Gerard Pique thought he had extended their lead moments later but that goal was also ruled out after a VAR review, this time for a fractional offside against Arturo Vidal.
Atleti had spent most of the second half trying to stop waves of Barca attacks but got a lifeline when substitute Vitolo was tripped by goalkeeper Neto and striker Alvaro Morata equalised from the penalty spot in the 81st minute. Stand-in keeper Neto was also at fault for the winning goal, failing to properly block Correa's shot which bounced into the net to cap an incredible match. (Reuters)
Re-live the action in the blog below:
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid
Who else? Messi scores!
A nicely-worked move from Barcelona picks up Suarez in the middle, who lays it down to Messi. The captain charges through a couple of bodies on the edge of the box to take him close to the goal and he slams the ball past Oblak with his right foot. It's fair to say the crowd enjoyed that goal a little more than Koke's six minutes earlier.
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid
53: The Atletico Madrid goal aside, Barcelona have started this half much like how they finished the first. Patient and everything coming through Messi. It's almost worrying where they'd be without him.
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid
56: Oblak brilliant denies Griezmann.
Barcelona quickly turn over possession and release Griezemann in behind the defence. He dries a precise chip over the goalkeeper and Oblak is forced to use every inch of his height to pat it away.
Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid
58: You wonder whether Oblak has offended Suarez somehow as the Barcelona forward collides with the goalkeeper in the air and hurts him for a second time in this game.
Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Messi again!
Stunning work from Messi, once again bailing out Barcelona.
A high ball is beautifully controlled by the Argentine, who touches it past a defender and slots a finish past Oblak. Brilliant stuff.
Oh no, VAR is being checked.
It looked like Messi may have handled that.
...it's ruled out.
Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Griezmann scores!
It's all going on here.
Oblak does brilliant to save from Suarez, who powers a header right at the goalkeeper from close-range. There is, however, no stopping Griezmann's follow-up as he prods into an empty net.
Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
59: Felipe goes into the book for a cheeky, late tackle on Suarez. No need for that in a nothing area of the pitch.
Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
65: It's like the Atletico Madrid players haven't learned anything from their previous encounters with him as Messi is given a lot of space on the edge of the area to turn and shoot over.
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