Barcelona: Bravo; Dani Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Rakitic (Rafinha 89’), Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Luis Suárez (Pedro 91’), Neymar. 4-3-3.
Atlético: Moyá; Juanfran, Giménez, Godín, Jesús Gámez (Siquiera 83’); Gabi (Fernando Torres 68‘), Tiago; Koke, Griezmann (Raúl García 74‘), Arda Turan; Mandzukic. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 12. Neymar. Slid ball past Moyà after Luis Suárez touched on Messi cross.
2-0. 35. Luis Suárez. Controlled Messi pass and fired shot wide of keeper.
2-1. 57. Mandzukic (penalty). After Messi tripped Jesús Gámez inside the area.
3-1. 88. Messi. Turned shot past Moyà after Raúl García cut out Rakitic pass.
Yellow cards: Jesús Gámez 21’, Mandzukic 33’, Juanfran 49’, Luis Suárez 59’, Tiago 65’, Griezmann 69’, Mascherano 74’, Messi 80’, Godín 83’.
Barcelona stay a point behind leaders Real Madrid after a 3-1 victory over Atlético Madrid in the last match on Sunday night. The two teams started the game level on points, but the locals dominated the first half, Neymar opening the scoring in the twelfth minute after Luis Suárez touched on Messi’s cross. Jordi Alba and Messi brought good saves out of Moyà and Neymar headed wide, and with ten minutes to go to the break Luis Suárez fired a second past the keeper following a good run by Messi, although the Argentinian forward was lucky that the referee didn’t spot that his initial control was with his upper arm. Atleti’s first real attempt at goal was a looping header over the bar by Godín soon after the restart, but a few minutes later Mandzukic got one back from the penalty spot after Messi tripped Jesús Gámez just inside the area. Simeone brought on his new signing Fernando Torres, and Bravo had to save at his feet soon afterwards. But Messi put Moyà to the test again, and with two minutes to go he added his name to the impressive scoresheet, turning a shot in from close to goal after Raúl García inadvertently played the ball to him trying to cut out Rakitic’s pass.