Barcelona put a week of turmoil behind them with
a 3-1 win over champions Atletico Madrid to
reignite their La Liga title challenge.
Head coach Luis Enrique was widely criticised for
his team selection in last weekend's dispiriting
1-0 loss at Real Sociedad and a 5-0 midweek
thrashing of Elche in the Copa del Rey did not
prevent him from entering Sunday night's pivotal
Camp Nou encounter under heavy scrutiny.
A rumoured rift between Luis Enrique and Lionel
Messi dominated the pre-match build-up, but
Barcelona's star man produced a majestic and
tenacious display, laying on goals for attacking
colleagues Neymar and Luis Suarez to ensure the
hosts led 2-0 10 minutes before half-time.
Messi blotted his copybook by conceding a 57th-
minute penalty that Mario Mandzukic converted
to hand Atletico a lifeline, although Diego
Simeone's men could not follow Wednesday
night's stirring 2-0 cup win over city rivals Real
Madrid with another memorable success on the
ground where they famously secured the Liga
crown on the final day of last season.
It was Messi who fittingly had the final word,
ending a run of seven goalless matches against
Atletico three minutes from time
and closing Barca to within two points of leaders
Real having played a game more
Atletico are three points further back in third
after a match where their enterprising start
quickly unravelled into a torrid opening half.
Messi skewed a ninth-minute shot wide but
created the opening goal from the inside-right
position.
Suarez failed to control his team-mate's low
cross with his thigh but Juanfran's missed
clearance left Neymar with a far-post finish.
It was almost double misery for Atletico in the
13th minute as goalkeeper Miguel Moya fumbled
a Neymar strike and recovered sharply to thwart
Suarez.
The visitors responded in robust fashion as a
shuddering tackle from Jose Gimenez left Neymar
with a bloodied right ankle and left-back Jesus
Gamez – seemingly targeted by Barca on his
second league start for Atletico – was booked for
clattering through Messi.
On his return to the field, Neymar passed up a
glorious 23rd-minute chance to double his tally
with a back-post header after Messi sent Suarez
scampering away down the right.
Moya stood firm to deny Messi when some
dazzling footwork left Gamez in his wake and the
mercurial Argentine was to the fore when Barca
doubled their lead, albeit with a slice of fortune.
Referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco did not penalise
Messi for an apparent handball before a driving
run left the Atletico defence is disarray and
allowed Suarez to slam home his second Liga
goal.
Any ill-feeling from Simeone's men towards the
official was partially undone 11 minutes into the
second half when, in an unlikely role reversal,
Messi clipped Gamez's ankle in the area and
Mandzukic blasted the resulting penalty – and his
team's first shot on target – high into the centre
of the goal.
Atletico turned up the heat during the closing
stages, when tempers threatened to boil over on
both sides, but they were unable to fully wrestle
control from Barcelona.
Following a particularly fractious period of play,
Messi converted a cross from the excellent Ivan
Rakitic at the second attempt to ensure Barca
overcame an opponent they failed to beat over six
games last season.
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