Atletico Madrid did arch rivals Real Madrid a huge favor after claiming a stunning comeback victory over Primera Liga leaders Barcelona tonight in a breathtaking encounter at the Vicente Calderon.
Atletico fought back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 before Sergio Aguero pounced in the 89th minute to earn the Rojiblancos an unlikely victory and leave Barca with just a four-point lead at the summit.
Barca, who had beaten Atletico three times already this season in league and cup - including a 6-1 hammering at the Nou Camp, had been 12 points ahead of Madrid a fortnight ago but they now have a real fight on their hands.
It was a frenetic start to the match with Atletico going close through Aguero and having a John Heitinga goal ruled out for a marginal offside, while Barca striker Samuel Eto'o was denied by Leo Franco at the other end following some sloppy defending.
All that was in the opening six minutes and although the game settled down a bit, it was no real surprise to see the deadlock broken early on as Barca took an 18th-minute lead through Thierry Henry.
The ball fell kindly to the Frenchman on the edge of the area and his first-time shot curled over Leo Franco and into the far top corner of the net.
That goal came against the run of play, and it was to get worse for Atletico 12 minutes later when Lionel Messi made it 2-0 after dancing through the home defense and coolly sliding the ball home.
In the space of a dozen minutes all the early enthusiasm and belief appeared to have been sucked out of both the Atleti team and the capacity crowd, who must have been fearing another heavy defeat at the hands of the Catalan team.
However, a stunning strike from Diego Forlan two minutes later set the stadium rocking again as the Uruguayan's 25-yard shot out of nothing flew into the far corner of the net with Victor Valdes barely moving.
Atletico then laid siege to the Barca goal and Simao and Aguero both tested Valdes while Maxi Rodriguez drilled a shot wide.
Barca were not without their chances either though and Eidur Gudjohnsen and Messi both missed great opportunities to make it 3-1 towards the end of the half.
It was a hugely entertaining opening 45 minutes and, after a low-key start, the second period followed suit with chances galore.
Eto'o had a decent opening in the 53rd minute when he was put through on goal but he sliced his shot high and wide, and that proved to be a costly miss as 60 seconds later Atletico were level.
Barca center-back Rafael Marquez failed to deal with a ball forward and Aguero took advantage to fire a low shot past Valdes.
Atletico, who had won only once in 11 competitive matches in 2009 prior to this match, then enjoyed a one-sided 20-minute spell that saw Forlan (twice) and Aguero go close.
Barca weathered the storm though and, once again against the run of play, re-took the lead in the 72nd minute through Henry.
Gudjohnsen broke the Atletico offside trap and drew out Leo Franco before unselfishly laying the ball across to Henry who tapped into an empty net.
The pendulum had now swung back Barca's way and Eto'o came close to making it 4-2 only to be denied by Leo Franco before Messi put the rebound wide.
Atletico refused to roll over, though, and they were handed a chance to get back on level terms when they were awarded a penalty after Florent Sinama Pongolle was sent crashing after trying to get on the end of a cross.
The referee initially chose not to give the kick but he changed his mind seemingly on advice from his assistant and Forlan ensured the opportunity was not spurned, firing his kick to the right of Valdes.
That was not the end of the drama though as Atletico still manage to summon up a late winner.
Carles Puyol failed to clear the danger and Aguero pounced to drill home a low shot, sparking wild scenes at both the Vicente Calderon and no doubt at the Bernabeu as well.
