Barcelona edges Atlético de Madrid behind Fermín López double
The 23-year-old midfielder scored twice to lead the league leader to a 2-1 comeback win at the Metropolitano on Sunday.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Fermín López scored twice to help Barcelona beat Atlético de Madrid 2-1 on Sunday. The victory kept the Catalan club at the top of the Spanish league table. Barcelona finished the match three points ahead of Real Madrid.
Atlético de Madrid controlled possession early in the game. Giuliano Simeone put the hosts ahead in the first half. The visitors struggled to break through Atlético's defensive line. López equalized with a left-footed shot just before the break.
The second goal came in the 66th minute. Lamine Yamal provided the assist from behind the defense. López finished the play to complete the comeback. This performance added to a strong run for the 23-year-old midfielder.
The league schedule was paused briefly this weekend. Matches were stopped at the ninth minute to honor Jesús de Miguel. The Tenerife forward died on Monday following a collision on the field.
De Miguel wore the number nine jersey. Tributes occurred across all Spanish league matches. Fans and players observed the moment before play resumed. The pause served as a memorial for the late player.
In other results, Real Betis secured a 2-0 win against Elche. Rodrigo Riquelme and Marc Bartra scored in the late stages of that match. The result solidified Betis's position in fourth place in the standings.
Atlético de Madrid remains in third place. The team sits five points behind Barcelona. The league continues with the current standings intact.
