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Atl\u00e9tico Madrid came from behind to beat Barcelona in a five-goal thriller and book their spot in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\nAtl\u00e9tico Madrid came from behind to beat Barcelona in a five-goal thriller and book their spot in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Diego Simeone\u2019s side were heading for another defeat against the La Liga champions with 10 minutes left at the King Abdullah Stadium, but goals from Alvaro Morata and Angel Correa turned the semi-final tie around.<\/p>\n
The 3-2 victory was Atl\u00e9tico\u2019s first win over Barcelona since April 13, 2016 and set up a derby showdown against Real Madrid on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Barca boss Ernesto Valverde would have been frustrated with his team\u2019s late capitulation after goals by Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann put them on course for the final.<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico started brightly but failed to trouble Barcelona\u2019s second-choice goalkeeper Neto and it was his opposite number who was called into action first.<\/p>\n
Jan Oblak came to his team\u2019s rescue with a superb save to deny Luis Suarez with 22 minutes gone.<\/p>\n
He was needed just before the break too, thwarting Griezmann against his former club as it remained goalless at half-time.<\/p>\n
Simeone made a switch at the interval with captain Koke introduced for Hector Herrera and it proved inspired.<\/p>\n
Just a minute into the second period and Joao Felix found Correa, who teed up Koke to open the scoring.<\/p>\n
It was short-lived joy for Atl\u00e9tico, however, with Barcelona leveling the scores five minutes later through their skipper Messi.<\/p>\n
The Argentinian worked some space and, despite the close proximity of two opponents, fired home.<\/p>\n
Valverde\u2019s side were firmly on top now and thought they had taken the lead on the hour mark, but Messi\u2019s effort was ruled out by VAR for handball.<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico were struggling and their pain increased two minutes later when, despite Oblak denying Suarez\u2019s header, ex-team-mate Griezmann was on hand to head home.<\/p>\n
Simeone reacted by introducing Vitolo and Marcos Llorente \u2013 the latter replacing Koke, who was unable to continue.<\/p>\n
VAR disallowed another Barca goal with 17 minutes to go as Gerald Pique saw a header ruled out for Arturo Vidal being offside.<\/p>\n
This proved crucial as Atl\u00e9tico earned a lifeline with 10 minutes left when Neto rushed out and brought down Correa inside the area.<\/p>\n
A penalty was awarded and former Chelsea striker Morata made no mistake from 12 yards to make it 2-2.<\/p>\n
VAR was needed minutes later to look at another potential spot kick and Atl\u00e9tico\u2019s remonstrations fell on deaf ears with Pique not adjudged to have handled the ball deliberately.<\/p>\n
Barcelona were on the ropes, though, and Valverde watched his defense react slowly to Correa in the 86th minute, with the Argentinian taking full advantage to fire beyond Neto.<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico almost added another not long after and despite four minutes of stoppage time, it finished 3-2 meaning the two invited teams for this new-look tournament \u2013 Real having knocked out Copa del Rey winners Valencia on Wednesday \u2013 will meet in Sunday\u2019s final.<\/p>\n