Barcelona take vital win as nine-man Atletico Madrid implode

Barcelona came from behind to beat an indisciplined Atletico Madrid side 2-1 at the Camp Nou to take a three-point lead in La Liga title race.

Atletico Madrid took a surprise lead when Koke converted Saul Niguez’s cross from the right, and their disciplined defence had Barcelona rattled.

They could only hang on for so long against the home side’s pressure, and Lionel Messi equalised with a neat finish. Luis Suarez added a second soon after.

The match descended into intermittent aggression when Filipe Luis was sent off for leaving his studs in on Messi, finishing a feud that Luis had initiated earlier. Diego Godin got his second yellow for a ludicrous challenge on Suarez. Somehow Atletico held on without conceding another, despite being down to nine men for almost half an hour.

Barcelona extended their lead at the top to three points with a game in hand, and Real Madrid now have the chance to narrow the gap with Atletico to just a point.

10’ - GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Atletico Madrid, Koke scores - A cross from the right runs to Koke, unmarked, in the box, and his controlled finish beats Bravo.

30’ - GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid. Messi scores - Messi tries to dribble his way into the box, but, and he's tackled. Then Neymar brings the ball over to the left hand side of the box, releases it to Alba, who pulls it across for Messi's second run, and he drills in his shot at the near post.

38’ - GOAL! Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid. Suarez scores - He runs onto a chipped ball forwards, holds off a defender, and takes one touch to send the ball past Oblak's right.

44’ - RED CARD! Filipe Luis is sent off for a foul on Messi on the right wing. Messi is down, all the players have come out to have an argument with one another. Luis left his studs in when they both went for a high ball, catching his knee, and he can't really complain.

56’ - GRIEZMANN SHOT - Bravo flaps the corner away. Atletico win it back. Carrasco curls in a cross from the right and Griezmann toes it towards goal a few yards out, but it's straight at Bravo and he puts it behind.

65’ - RED CARD FOR GODIN! Suarez turns right away from Godin, who absolutely flies through him at a rate of knots. It's an obvious second yellow, and Atletico are in a mess.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona): Neymar was quiet, and Suarez obviously made his mark, but it was Messi who equalised and drew the first red card. When Barcelona were struggling, two interventions by him helped seal a crucial victory. They were gearing up to really take Atletico apart, but the two red cards appeared to end their ambition, knowing victory was theirs.

Barcelona: Bravo 6, Alves 6, Piqué 7, Mascherano 6, Alba 7, Rakitic 6, Busquets 6, Iniesta 7, Messi 8, Suárez 7, Neymar 7. Subs: Turan 6, Sergi 6.

Atletico: Oblak 7, Juanfran, Godín 3, Giménez 6, Filipe Luis 3, Augusto 6, Gabi 6, Saúl 6, Koke 6, Carrasco 6, Griezmann 6. Subs: Gamez 6, Savic 6, Teye 6.

Lionel Messi (482) and Cristiano Ronaldo (518) have scored 1,000 career goals combined.

Lionel Messi has 25 goals in his last 28 games against Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona are undefeated in 2016 in all competitions.

Atletico Madrid were holding their own, what made them lose their rag? They were only a goal behind when Filipe Luis decided to introduce his studs to Lionel Messi’s knee, in full view of the referee. Similarly, they had a chance still before Diego Godin slid in for an obvious second yellow card. Diego Simeone has a side in contention for La Liga, and they are usually well drilled, but watching them lose their control so rapidly is alarming.