Barcelona 1 - Atlético Madrid 3

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Gabri, Oleguer, Puyol, Sylvinho; Van Bommel (Ezquerro 46'), Márquez (Van Bronckhorst 74'), Iniesta; Messi (Giuly 46'), Larsson, Deco. 4-3-3.
Atlético: Leo Franco; Molinero, Perea, Pablo, Antonio López (García Calvo 89'); Luccin; Galletti, Maxi, Ibagaza (Colsa 85'), Petrov (Gabi 77'); Fernando Torres. 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Barça: Gabri, Iniesta, Messi for Edmilson, Giuly, Ronaldinho / Atlético: Molinero, Galletti for Velasco, Kezman.

Goals:
0-1. 33. Fernando Torres. Picked up loose ball and fired shot past Valdés.
0-2. 46. Maxi. Ran on to Petrov's angled cross and turned ball in from close up.
1-2. 65. Larsson. Steered ball in off far post from Iniesta's square cross.
1-3. 76. Fernando Torres. Collected Maxi headed pass and beat man to score.

Barcelona's run of 14 wins in a row in the league came to an end when they were beaten 1-3 by Atlético Madrid on Sunday evening, leaving them one victory short of Real Madrid's all time record from the 1960-61 season. Curiously Barcelona's only other defeat in the league this season came against Atlético, and the last time they lost at the Nou Camp was against the same side almost exactly a year ago. They still however stay nine points clear at the top of the table.

Fernando Torres always seems to do well in the Nou Camp, and he had a goal disallowed for a borderline offside before putting the visitors ahead after Ibagaza's cross hit Gabri on the back and fell into the path of the young striker. The visitors found their stride after that, and Petrov brought a good save out of Víctor Valdés with a long shot. And just a minute after the restart Torres sent the Bulgarian winger away for him to set up Maxi for a second goal with a pinpoint cross.

With Eto'o away on international duty and Ronaldinho suspended, the home side had only troubled Leo Franco's goal a couple of times (the best a shot from Larsson over the bar), and Rijkaard made a double switch at the break to bring on Ezquerro and Giuly for Van Bommel and Messi, who had suffered an injury. Puyol came within a whisker of pulling one back when the keeper beat away his powerful header at point blank range, but minutes later Petrov could have added to his side's scoreline when he thundered a long free kick against the crossbar.

Twenty minutes in to the second half Barça did get one back, Larsson forcing the ball in off the far post from Iniesta's square pass. But a few minutes later Torres broke free again to collect a headed pass from Maxi and steer a shot wide of Valdés, his seventh goal against the Blaugrana in his short career. The Catalans did their best to get back, with Iniesta bringing a good save out of Leo Franco and Giuly going just wide. But Pepe Murcia's side held on for three important points which keeps them in the running for a European spot.