Victory moved Barcelona three points clear of Atletico – having also played a game less – and seven ahead of third-placed Real Madrid and Simeone was quick to cite the importance of Suarez to Luis Enrique’s side.
Advertisement
Down a goal and a man to start the second half, Atletico looked to Carrasco again to try and grab a lifeline.
Atletico’s task was also made harder ahead of the second period when they lost Filipe Luis to a red card in the 44th minute, with the Brazilian given his marching orders for a late challenge on Messi.
Koke pounced on some sloppy defensive play to beat Bravo from 10 yards and Augusto Fernandez came close to doubling the lead but the league leaders equalised after half an hour. He received the ball from a throw in and shrugged off Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano by the corner flag to cut back towards Antoine Griezmann but the Frenchman left it for Koke, who side-footed low past Bravo.
Atletico were then caught uncharacteristically flat-footed as Dani Alves’s long ball over the top picked out Suarez, who showed great strength to hold off compatriot Jose Maria Gimenez, before slotting between Oblak’s legs.
In Spain, Atletico Madrid were looking to overtake Barcelona for the top spot in La Liga as they visited the Nou Camp.
The likes of Messi, Suarez and Neymar are in unstoppable form at the moment and it will be interesting to see how Simeone manages to nullify their threat.
Barcelona were able to move three points clear at the top of the La Liga table with a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid despite conceding an early goal.
Atleti coach Diego Simeone sacrificed Gabi for Jesus Gamez at the break but, with a numerical advantage, Barca took their time in possession, Godin’s intervention required to deny Suarez a sight of goal following a precise Messi pass.
Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is delighted to open up a lead against Atletico Madrid after recording a 2-1 win over the Rojiblancos. “There is a long way to go and we will see, but normally they don’t falter”.
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.
Atletico Madrid will face Eibar at the Estadio Vicente Calderon in the cup, before an away tie at Getafe next weekend.
Advertisement
Atletico surprisingly continued to dominate despite being a man short, but that came to an abrupt end in the 65th minute when they were sensationally reduced to nine men. We knew how we had to play against them.
