Well, we’re going to wrap this blog up now. Many talking points, and lots to unpick on the post-game highlights. Thanks a lot for reading. Goodbye.
Well, that was quite a game. The first half was excellent, and both teams looked confident and skilful, but then it was spoiled rather by two moments from Atletico players experienced enough to know better: first, Filipe Luis’s tackle on Messi was crude, rude, and dangerous, and it deserved the straight red it got, and then just as Atletico were making life difficult for Barca, Godin slid in needlessly on Suarez, received his second yellow card, and the game was over.
Atleti played well when they weren’t fouling, but they made life too hard for themselves. Barcelona weren’t at their magnetic best, but they did enough, and scored two good goals. If the match had finished 11 v 11, who knows?
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Final moments elsewhere:
Full-time: Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
That’s it, and Barcelona go three points clear.
90 min + 3: Carrasco wanted a foul, and he should have got one: Pique seemed to block him off as Atleti attacked, but nothing doing. That should be that.
90 min +2: Three minutes of stoppage time. Thomas fouls Arda, and it’s a yellow card. Atletico can’t get the ball.
90 min + 1: Koke’s ball is won by Gimenez, and suddenly it’s loose in front of goal! Savic had jumped into Bravo, though, and a foul is called. Hearts in mouths for Barca, but it was a clear foul by the Atleti player.
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90 min: Mascherano commits a pointless foul by the corner flag on Carrasco, and this is an opportunity for Atletico! Rash from Masche – Rasche? – and Oblak comes up!
89 min: Barcelona are playing triangles on the edge of Atleti’s area. Suarez combines with Messi, but the Uruguayan’s shot is over the bar.
87 min: Barca are going to go three points clear at the top with a game in hand. Is this the end of any pretence of a genuine title race? It’s going to be Barcelona’s trophy, isn’t it?
85 min: Do Atletico give it one final push? If they commit men forward, Barca will burn them on the break. What to do?! Suarez wins a corner off Savic. It comes to nothing.
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84 min: Barcelona well on top. Atleti are strung in a line on the edge of their penalty area. But they win a free kick in midfield, and Oblak sends it long. It’s cleared.
82 min: Scooped pass from Neymar looks for Iniesta running beyond Juanfran, and Iniesta’s touch is lovely, but he just runs out of pitch, and it’s a goal kick. Sub for Barca Sergi Roberto in for Dani Alves. Alves has done well, and gets a clap from the spectators in the front row.
81 min: Wonderful dribble from Messi, taking on three Atleti defenders in the box, but his cross is headed behind. Corner for Barca, but Atleti do well to repel the delivery.
79 min: Alves takes a touch 30 yards from goal, looks up, and fires one towards goal. It’s wide – just.
76 min: Hope lives for Atletico at 1-2. But that’s a lovely backheel from Arda for Messi, and now Barca can move the ball around and look for the gaps. Chance for Barca! Brilliant pass from Sergio Busquets, disguised really nicely, and Arda was free in the box, but his shot was wide! Good effort, and he tried for the corner, but just misplaced his finish. Fabulous ball from Sergio, though.
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75 min: A round of applause from the fans in the stadium as Augusto leaves on a stretcher. Mascherano, his Argentinian friend, gives him a kiss on the forehead. I hope he’s OK: he looked in a bad way as he left the field.
73 min: Augusto Fernandez overstretched as he tried to take it off Arda Turan, and he’s calling to the bench. He can’t continue, and it Thomas Partey is going to come in. Augusto has played really well today.
71 min: The game has entered a lull, understandably. Barcelona happy to keep possession. Koke looks for Carrasco, but Alves comes across to cover.
69 min: Barca make a change, and Arda Turan is on for Rakitic. That was such a disappointing tackle from Godin: Suarez was going nowhere. Another hot-headed moment. The ref had no option! Simeone is going to kick some arse after the match: his players have let him down.
67 min: Such a needless red card, just when Atleti were on top – and from a senior player! Griezmann is sacrificed for Savic, and Atleti will, I guess, just try to keep it as tight as they can.
66 min: Well, this certainly is game over. Suarez went foraging in Atleti’s left-back slot, and the ball was loose: Suarez nipped in to poke it away, and Godin came sliding in, but the ball had already gone. It wasn’t really malicious, but it was certainly late, and Alberto Undiano had no option: a second yellow for Godin, and Atleti are down to nine.
RED CARD! (Godin, Atletico, 65)
Oh, Diego.
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63 min: Iniesta clips Juanfran, and Koke can swing one in, but Barca do well to repel the initial cross, and then the second one. Carrasco goes at Pique again – I think he fancies that one-v-one matchup – but Barca hold firm. Atleti have been so impressive in this second half. Lesser teams would have crumbled, but Atleti have shown some serious gumption here.
61 min: Barca give it away again! The hosts are not having it all their own way.
Here’s Mark Turner: “It was ugly and straight red material for sure, but I wasn’t surprised. Those two have had a niggling dispute going on for years and Leo badmouths him on the pitch regularly (that “butter wouldn’t melt” thing Leo has is way overplayed). When Atleti went on tilt that last 10 minutes Filipe sticking one on Leo was always on the cards. Glad Leo’s okay, could have been the end of his season.”
60 min: Pique is breathing hard: he’s had to be at his best to stop Carrasco and Griezmann in this second half. Just looking at that Griezmann chance: Bravo just managed to get his toe on it, and diverted it past the post. So unlucky from the Frenchman.
59 min: Another corner to Atleti! This is some response. But that’s a disappointing kick, and Barca head clear. Saul tries to go in behind, and again Barca look vulnerable. Juanfran skins Mascherano, but his cross is just too long for Saul. This is really good from the visitors.
56 min: Brilliant run by Carrasco, positive and direct, and Pique is struggling for a moment, but he does just enough to conceded a corner. Claudio Bravo flaps at the set piece, but Atleti had only sent four forward, and Barca get away with one.
Now Carrasco crosses, and Griezmann gets free – and what a save by Cladio Bravo! Griezmann has his head in his hands: how did he not score? He got between two and poked it goalwards, but somehow Bravo reacted to turn it aside. So close to 2-2!
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53 min: Carrasco is late on Iniesta and the Camp Nou crowd whistles for a card. Nothing doing. This has been a decent inital eight minutes from Atleti, but Barca can cause mayhem in an instant, and that’s good defending from Godin as Suarez looked to pounce. Corner, but it’s a waste.
51 min: Messi knocks it off Godin and wins the corner. The Barca player is OK, by the way: no obvious after-effects from the Filipe Luis tackle. Rakitic drops his shoulder and tries to hit one with the left foot, but it’s blocked.
49 min: But that’s a good claim from Oblak, plucking Neymar’s corner out of the air and getting Atleti moving. Carrasco and Griezmann do have pace, at least, so Atleti can still worry a slightly vulnerable Barca defence on the counter-attack.
48 min: Rakitic, who always looks so assured in possession, combines well with Suarez and wins the corner. Messi’s ball in is cleared by Griezmann, but Barca pump it back in, and Juanfran can’t prevent another corner. Early Barca pressure.
47 min: And already Atleti are defending on their 18-yard line. This is going to a real challenge for the visitors. They need to get through the fist 15 at least without conceding: another goal early and it’s game over.
We're back!
46 min: And Jesus Gamez is on for Gabi as Diego Simeone looks to plug the gap at left-back.
More goals here, and Nick Miller has all the action:
The players are making their way back to the pitch. Seconds away!
A shame, really, that the half ended in such circumstances: the game had been really entertaining, and Atleti weren’t out of it. But it’s so tough to see them coming back from this. I hope they prove me wrong, though!
I think Messi will be OK, but that was a really bad tackle from Filipe. Barca were all over Atleti after the Suarez goal, and it looked like Atleti, collectively, just lost their heads. Juanfran made a crude tackle on Neymar, and then Filipe just had a brain freeze. Unacceptable.
Christian Vieri is not impressed: “He has to get 10 weeks [suspension] here. You can’t play soccer like this. That could break Messi’s leg.”
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A crazy end to the half, and Atletico are down to 10 men after a dreadful tackle from Filipie Luis. The ball was bouncing by the touchline, on halfway, and Messi and Filipe both went for it – but the Brazilian’s tackle was reckless in the extreme. Studs up, nowhere near the ball, and he caught Messi right on the knee. Really mean, with excessive force, and that could have caused serious injury. Luis Enrique was absolutely furious. A straight red, and no real complaint from Filipe Luis. Wow. What a half!
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Half-time: Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Well, it’s all happening, but that’s the whistle. Barca well on top now.
RED CARD! (Filipe Luis, Atletico, 45)
What a terrible challenge on Messi, and it’s a deserved sending off. Atleti have it all to do.
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44 min: Carrasco wanted a free-kick on the edge of the box, but Alberto Undiano said no. It was the right call.
43 min: More pressure from Barca, and Neymar’s body swerve to go past Saul was luscious, but his shot was blocked. Atletico hammer it clear. They need half-time.
41 min: Atletico are under the cosh here. Four minutes to half-time, and they desperately need to go in without conceding another. Juanfran whacks Neymar from behind, cynically, and it’s a deserved yellow.
39 min: Dani Alves had the ball on halfway, and just clipped one over the top for Suarez, who ran in behind two defenders. Gimenez tried to cover, but Suarez was too quick, and he allowed it to drop over his shoulder, and just poked one through Oblak’s legs. Great, instinctive, opportunistic forward play from Suarez, but it was just one long ball. For a team as good defensively as Atleti, that was below par.
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Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid (Suarez 38)
Atleti are undone by a long ball, and Barcelona lead! Simeone can’t believe it.
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37 min: Over the bar from Griezmann! The Barca fans thought the ball had gone out of play on the left, but Filipe Luis played on, found Griezmann in the box, but his shot was high. He should have hit the target.
Richard Robinson has a soft spot for Ray Hudson. “After Koke’s goal, he came out with these two gems: “A touch as soft as a snowflake falling on a winter’s night” and that “he hit that not just with prejudice, but with prettiness as well.” He also just used the term “a squirrel on a telephone wire”, but, sadly, I have no idea why.”
34 min: This is an extremely watchable game, and what a marked contrast in styles. Just looking at the goal again, three excellent Barcelona passes: Mascherano to Neymar, Neymar to Alba, and Alba’s clever cutback for Messi. Superb.
32 min: But now a chance for Atleti after Neymar’s silly foul on Juanfran. Gabi crosses, but that’s a dominant header from Pique as Godin attacked it. Atleti have the ball in Barca’s right-back slot, and they need this: Barca had pushed them right back, and they couldn’t escape their 18-yard line.
31 min: Barca had really cranked up the pressure, and Atletico couldn’t get out of their box. Neymar’s disguised pass for Alba took out Juanfran, and from the byline, Alba checked, turned inside, and found Messi, who slammed one first-time from 15 yards. Atletico couldn’t cope: the speed of Barca’s passing was too much. Lovely goal. Game on!
GOAL! Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Messi 30!)
What a goal! Messi levels for the hosts.
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29 min: Messi is found, beautifully by Iniesta, and he’s into the box, worrying Filipe Luis, but his cross is cut out: a block of Atleti defenders were there to clear the danger. Atleti are defending increasingly deep. Now Oblak saves from Suarez! Iniesta wove magic in the inside-left channel, found Suarez with a gem of a pass, but Suarez’s left-footer was blocked by the legs of Oblak! Barca coming on strong.
26 min: It is Messi … but it’s just wide. It was perhaps a bit far out to really trouble Oblak.
25 min: Now Gabi goes into the book for pulling back Rakitic, who had engineered the opening with some lovely quick feet. This is a chance from about 27 yards, and Messi has a glint in his eye.
24 min: Oh, that’s a disappointing corner, and Barca break – but Messi is stopped by a cynical check from Filipe Luis. No card, though! Lenient from Alberto Undiano. But this one will be a booking: Godin came straight through the back of his compatriot, Suarez, and there’s no argument. That was reckless.
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22 min: Typically, Atletico look dangerous from set pieces, and Gimenez is close to getting on the end of one. Rakitic did just enough, but Atleti win it back and exert more pressure. Barca keep giving it away! It’s a corner.
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21 min: Every time Barca look like they’re building something, Atleti just shut them down. And now Augusto Fernandez from range! Lovely feet to get past Sergio, and he just thrashed one from 25 yards. Just wide of the post! Bravo didn’t seem hugely confident that he would have saved that.
19 min: Barcelona have started to play; they’re not quite purring yet, but this is much better. The speed of their passing has quickened, but that’s good defending from Atleti, and Filipe Luis wins the throw.
17 min: Corner for Barca, their first, and Alves with a wonderful, full-blooded volley … blocked by Godin! Alves hit that so purely, and it was heading in, but Godin just threw himself at it. Great defending.
15 min: Neymar drives at the defence, and cuts inside, slaloming past Juanfran, but Atleti are so quick to fall behind the ball, and the momentum is taken from Barca’s forward thrust. Ray Hudson on commentary has it right: “This defence, like Fort Knox usually, is going to tighten its locks now.”
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13 min: First glimpse from Iniesta, and he looks for Suarez in the inside-right channel, but Oblak sees it out of play.
12 min: It’s been a really impressive start by Atleti, and they deserve their lead. Barcelona just can’t settle. And what a fine finish by Koke: he had to take it first time, and he just caressed it past Bravo. Excellent technique.
11 min: Well, that’s set a cat among the pigeons! Saul, I think it was, got clear on the right-hand side, put a low ball across the Barca penalty box, Alves missed it, and Koke came up with a really lovely composed finish, just cushioning a shot beyond Bravo. Super goal, and the visitors are ahead!
GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Atletico Madrid (Koke 10)
Atleti lead!
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7 min: Godin is struggling here, but he’s staying on for the time being. Barca just beginning to settle into their passing rhythm; Atleti doing their best to prevent them climbing aboard their carousel.
6 min: Lovely switch from Rakitic, and a first chance for Alba to advance on the left. But that’s good defending from Saul, and Barca are forced to go back. Then a foul by Filipe Luis on Suarez, and it’s a free kick to the hosts. Godin is wincing. Did he take a knock? So important for Atleti that he stays on.
5 min: First chance to see Messi, but a quartet of Atleti defenders are upon him, and it’s out for a throw. Such aggressive closing down from the visitors.
3 min: Koke’s corner is only half cleared, and it’s knocked back in, and Godin is close to getting on the end of it! It’s through to Cladio Bravo, but this is a confident start from Atleti. Barca haven’t settled yet.
2 min: Decent start by Atleti, pushing Barcelona back, and it’s a free kick in a dangerous area. Godin is forward, but Gabi’s ball in is headed clear. Then Saul with a sizzler from long range. Left-footed, Saul just smacked one from 25 yards, and Claudio Bravo had to turn it round the post.
We're off!
1 min: Barcelona in familiar blaugrana. Atleti are the Rojiblancos for a reason, I guess.
The pitch at Camp Nou looks, as ever, like a bowling green. What an incredible picture. To recap: Barca go 4-3-3 in conventional style, and Atleti look more like 4-1-4-1.
Here’s JR in Illinois: “Do you think Barcelona is getting kicked more this year than in the past? I’ve seen some of their recent games against Espanyol and Athletic Bilboa and couldn’t believe the abuse being dished out to them, most of which their opponents got away with. I expect more of the same today.
“Though I do like Barcelona I do feel that Suarez and Neymar bring some of the violence on themselves. They are very kickable.”
Hm, yeah, possibly. It’s perhaps the inferior footballer’s prerogative: if it’s quicker, and more skilful than you, kick it. See also: Dave Bassett’s Wimbledon, any team coached by Jose Mourinho, and Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Brazil.
Some chatter about whether Neymar is going to stay at Camp Nou. Vieri, who has a certain gruff charm as a pundit, is dismissive of that notion: “He’s phenomenal, he’s amazing. Where else is he going to go? Stay there!”
We’re about 10 minutes from kick-off. Here’s a picture:
This is how Barça's XI today will look for #FCBAtleti #fcblive pic.twitter.com/YAF33W6ixl
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 30, 2016
Here’s Mike Blackwell: “My money’s on Atletico. Despite Barca’s good form of late I can see Simeone’s men just edging this one - especially since Barcelona have only named ten players according to your starting line ups.”
Ha! Yes, my apologies. Andres Iniesta is the missing man. Fixed now!
On TV, Christian Vieri is reflecting on his former team’s defensive qualities. “Atleti is a very tactical team. Simeone knows the way you have to defend and take space. It’s very hard to play against a team that doesn’t give you any space. They’re incredible, and they don’t have the budget of the other teams.”
Atleti have conceded just eight goals in 21 league games, and kept 14 clean sheets. What a fabulous achievement. Somewhere, Andy Linighan is nodding in appreciation.
If the FA Cup is more your thing, you can follow it here with the esteemed Nick Miller:
So it looks like a pretty much full-strength XI for Barcelona: Pique, Sergio and Jordi Alba all start, and Neymar, too. As Luis Enrique put it in the week: “If I don’t play Neymar tomorrow, he’ll grab me and kill me.” Arda Turan is among the substitutes.
Expect Antoine Griezmann to be Atleti’s most prominent attacker, with help from Carrasco and Koke; Jackson Martinez starts on the bench.
Your teams
Barcelona: Bravo, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Sergio, Rakitic, Iniesta, Suarez, Messi, Neymar. Subs: Ter Stegen, Munir, Arda Turan, Sergi Roberto, Aleix Vidal, Vermaelen, Mathieu.
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe, Augusto, Gabi, Saul, Koke, Carrasco, Griezmann. Subs: Moya, Savic, Jesus Gamez, Oliver, Thomas, Jackson Martinez, Vietto.
Referee: Alberto Undiano
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This is serious. El Clásico might be Spain’s biggest game, but Barcelona-Atléti is fast becoming its most important. Barca coach Luis Enrique has admitted that Atléti are “direct rivals” for the title, and these two grand old clubs face off today in a hugely interesting clash at Camp Nou.
Storylines abound: both teams are level on points atop La Liga, Barcelona are unbeaten in 25 games, Atlético’s defeat by Celta on Wednesday was only their second in 23. It’s Europe’s finest attack against its stingiest defence. Forget Real Madrid: the title winners will be one of these two.
But there’s the personal stuff, too: the layers of intrigue to unpick from a host of individual narratives. Fernando Torres, stuck on 99 Atleti goals, could be making his final appearance in Camp Nou. Arda Turan plays against his former club. Luis Suarez goes up against his fellow Uruguayan grinder Diego Godin. Neymar is back fit. Etc etc etc. Whatever tickles your fancy, there’s so much to enjoy here: rest assured, this is going to be good.
Kick-off’s at 4pm local, 3pm GMT, and 10pm ET. Join us!
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, read why Real Madrid continue to bid for Lionel Messi:
The Partido de las Doce programme on the Cadena COPE radio station claimed representatives of Real approached the Argentinian in 2011, 2013 and 2015, but were rebuffed on each occasion.
The report claimed the first approach in 2011 came at a time when Cristiano Ronaldo was being linked with a move to Manchester City. In June 2013 it was reported that a Real executive – on instruction from the club president Florentino Pérez – made a renewed attempt after they had lost out to Barcelona in the pursuit of Neymar.
The final attempt was made last year, according to the report, after Barcelona had dominated Real in Europe and at home, but again they were knocked back.
