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 2-1 Atletico Madrid
80: Penalty for Atletico!
Barcelona are caught on the break and Vitolo is brought down in the box by Neto as he rounds the goalkeeper. Just a yellow for Neto.
Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid
Alvaro Morata converts from the spot!
The Atletico Madrid forward sends Neto the wrong way and slots the ball low into the right corner.
Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid
82: Atletico Madrid want another penalty. This is for handball after Pique blocks a cross with a trailing arm. VAR having a look...
Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid
No penalty!
That is remarkable given Messi was penalised for a handball that was similar in nature in terms of it's accidentalness. Very strange.
Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid
84: Fair to say that's caught a lot of us off-guard.
Barcelona 2-2 Atletico Madrid
85: Rakitic is coming on for Busquets.
Barcelona 2-3 Atletico Madrid
Scenes! Absolute scenes!
Barcelona are so easily undone as Morata sets Correa through on goal. There's no offside and he's one-on-one with Neto. The goalkeeper saves his shot but the ball bounces beyond him and into the net!
Neto has to do better, but if we're picking holes in Barcelona let's start with the massive one in defence.
Barcelona 2-3 Atletico Madrid
88: Ansu Fati comes on for De Jong.
Barcelona 2-3 Atletico Madrid
90: It should be 4-2! Llorente starts running and just does not stop as he eases his way through the entire Barcelona team. His tired shot is well-saved, but he should have done better.
Four minutes of added time.
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