Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez celebrate against Atletico Madrid — Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have now scored 52 goals between them this season

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez scored as Barcelona came from behind to beat nine-man Atletico Madrid and go three points clear at the top of La Liga.

Atletico, who started the day level with the defending champions, took an early lead when Koke fired home.

But Messi slotted in the equaliser after 31 minutes and Suarez raced clear to score his 19th league goal of the season eight minutes later.

Atletico had Filipe Luis and Diego Godin sent off for bad challenges.

Title in the bag for Barca?

With a game in hand and a three-point lead at the top of the table it looks like Barcelona's title to lose now.

Luis Enrique's side have won five of their six league games since the winter break and are beginning to look unstoppable with 17 games to go.

Their remaining fixtures do not look too demanding, bar a visit from Real Madrid, who are now seven points back, at the start of April.

This may have been Atletico's last chance to stay in the hunt but they have now not won in 10 league attempts at the Nou Camp and with Barca doing the double for a second successive season, there may be no way back for Diego Simeone's men.

Red for danger

Filipe Luis is sent off for Atletico Madrid at Barcelona

Atletico's lack of discipline may have cost them their last tilt at the title after Luis and Godin were both sent off for needless challenges.

Luis' dangerous lunge at Messi just before half-time was as crude as it was reckless by the former Chelsea defender.

Barcelona coach Enrique was furious but Messi managed to avoid injury and his side was handed a one-man advantage.

Atletico were not out of it and still managed to create chances as they looked to fight back from 2-1 down.

But another wild challenge from Godin on Suarez, which could have earned him a straight red rather than a second yellow, left them too much to do as they played the final half-hour with only nine men.

Man of the match

Luis Suarez scores for Barcelona against Atletico Madrid — Luis Suarez was not at his best and even against nine men he, Lionel Messi and Neymar were unable to run riot. But when Barca need a goal Suarez is invariably the man and his calm finish to give him 31 goals for the season was ultimately the difference between the teams.

What they said:

Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo: "It was a tough game because they were very strong, but we came out on top in the duel and that is thanks to our work in the week."

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone: "Even with nine men we maintained our way of playing. In a game you can win or lose, but I always prefer to lose in this way."

What next?

Barcelona continue their quest for a treble of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey when they meet Gary Neville's Valencia in the first leg of their Spanish Cup semi-final next Wednesday night.

They return to league action at bottom club Levante next Sunday, while Atletico's next match is at home to Europa League hopefuls Eibar in La Liga next Saturday.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

13Bravo
6Alves da SilvaSubstituted forRoberto Carnicerat 82'minutes
3Piqué
14Mascherano
18Alba
4RakiticSubstituted forTuranat 67'minutes
5Busquets
8Iniesta
10Messi
9Suárez
11Neymar

Substitutes

1ter Stegen
7Turan
17El Haddadi
20Roberto Carnicer
22Vidal Parreu
23Vermaelen
24Mathieu

Atl Madrid

Formation 4-4-1-1

13Oblak
20Torres BelénBooked at 41mins
24Giménez de Vargas
2GodínBooked at 65mins
3Filipe LuísBooked at 44mins
17Saúl
14Fernández ArenasBooked at 25minsSubstituted forGámezat 45'minutes
12FernándezSubstituted forParteyat 76'minutesBooked at 90mins
6Koke
21Carrasco
7GriezmannSubstituted forSavicat 67'minutes

Substitutes

1Moyá Rumbo
10Torres Muñoz
11Martínez
15Savic
18Gámez
22Partey
23Vietto

Referee:: Alberto Undiano Mallenco
Attendance:: 93,011

Match Stats

Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamAtl Madrid

Possession: Home71%; Away29%

Shots: Home10; Away7

Shots on Target: Home4; Away4

Corners: Home8; Away6

Fouls: Home7; Away18

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Barcelona 2, Atlético de Madrid 1.
90'+3'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 2, Atlético de Madrid 1.

90'+3'
Post update
Gerard Piqué (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'
Post update
Foul by Yannick Carrasco (Atlético de Madrid).
90'+2'
Booking
Thomas Partey (Atlético de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'
Post update
Arda Turan (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Thomas Partey (Atlético de Madrid).
90'+1'
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Luis Suárez tries a through ball, but Arda Turan is caught offside.
90'
Post update
Claudio Bravo (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'
Post update
Foul by Stefan Savic (Atlético de Madrid).
90'
Post update
Attempt saved. Giménez (Atlético de Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Koke with a cross.
89'
Post update
Foul by Javier Mascherano (Barcelona).
89'
Post update
Yannick Carrasco (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
89'
Post update
Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
88'
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Giménez.
85'
Post update
Offside, Barcelona. Andrés Iniesta tries a through ball, but Luis Suárez is caught offside.
84'
Post update
Foul by Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona).
84'
Post update
Thomas Partey (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Sergi Roberto replaces Dani Alves.
81'
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Jesús Gámez.

Accessibility links