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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Jan 11, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
Atletico Madrid logo

3-1

Neymar (12'), Suarez (35'), Messi (87')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Mandzukic (57' pen.)

Barcelona storm past Atletico Madrid

Barcelona close the gap on Real Madrid as goals from Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi condemn Atletico Madrid to a 3-1 defeat at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona have closed the gap on Real Madrid at the top of La Liga to one point by beating Atletico Madrid 3-1 at the Camp Nou.

The hosts dominated from the first whistle, and they were ahead in just the 12th minute when Neymar slotted home from close range after Luis Suarez had failed to convert Lionel Messi's cross.

Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva Santos Junior celebrates his goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on January 11, 2015© Getty Images

Miguel Angel Moya was forced into a good save to keep out a powerful strike from Jordi Alba, but he could only watch on in hope when Neymar headed a great chance wide from Suarez's cross midway through the first half.

Messi took centre stage again to create Barcelona's second goal 10 minutes before the break as the Argentine took the ball into the box to find Suarez, who calmly finished to double his side's lead.

Despite offering very little to suggest that a comeback was a possibility, Atletico were given hope 12 minutes into the second half when Jesus Gamez won a penalty by going down after feeling a touch from Messi in the box.

Barcelona's players furiously protested the decision, but the referee ignored their claims as Mario Mandzukic drilled home the penalty.

The hosts looked less comfortable in possession with a slender lead, despite being given very little to be worried about by Atletico, who struggled to keep the pressure on after reducing the deficit.

Barcelona's coach Luis Enrique celebrates after a goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on January 11, 2015© Getty Images

A breakaway led by Mandzukic almost created the equaliser with 15 minutes remaining, but Claudio Bravo sprinted off his line to collect before substitute Fernando Torres could add the finishing touch.

Luis Enrique's side secured the victory in the 87th minute when Messi picked out the bottom corner at the second time of asking after missing Ivan Rakitic's cross at the first attempt.

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Real Madrid's defender Sergio Ramos vies with Atletico Madrid's forward Fernando Torres during the Spanish Copa del Rey round of 16 first leg football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs Real Madrid CF at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on January 7,
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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