Lionel Messi was back to his best against Atletico Madrid as his goal and assist helped Barcelona to a 3-1 victory at Camp Nou on Sunday.
Accusations of excessive rotation have been levelled at the Coach, but he didn’t take any risks with his XI, amidst reports that the match could have been his last at Camp Nou, as Claudio Bravo, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta all returned at the expense of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bartra and Sergi Roberto.
Up top, the attacking triumvirate of Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were given another run-out together, with Enrique seemingly banking on the South American trio to replicate the form they showed during the 5-0 demolition of Elche in the Copa del Rey on Thursday.
In the away corner, Diego Simeone made six changes from Atleti’s 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid midweek, starting in goal as Miguel Moya returned in place of Jan Oblak, while Juanfran, Tiago, Arda Turan, Koke and Mario Manduzkic were the other personnel coming into the fold.
La Blaugrana made their intent known from the off as Lionel Messi – starting again despite reports of a fallout with Enrique – almost put his side in the lead after just nine minutes, breezing past two Atleti defenders and slicing a shot wide from point-blank range at the near post.
Nonetheless, Barca did break the deadlock, just moments later, through Neymar. More good work from Messi down the right channel saw him drill the ball into the box for Suarez to sweep home, but the Uruguayan’s scuffed finish fell to the former Santos star, who slid the ball past Moya.
Neymar was prominent throughout the first half, although he was fortunate to stay on, having been the recipient of a nasty-looking challenge from Jose Maria Gimenez, leaving the Brazilian with a fresh wound on his ankle. However, he came back on to somehow guide a free header wide.
Sergio Busquets was next up for Barca, although unsurprisingly not for his goalscoring exploits, after a coming-together with Mario Mandzukic resulted in the Croat yelling in the face of the midfielder for his perceived histrionics and subsequently earning a booking for his troubles.
Yet the Catalans went into the break with a second goal to their name. Messi, again surging down the right wing, appeared to control a lofted pass with his arm, but he continued in his stride and fed Suarez, who coolly nestled his finish beyond the ex-Mallorca 'keeper.
The floodgates appeared to be opening for Barca until they were a huge setback near the hour mark when Jesus Gamez fell in the box after Messi was adjudged to have scythed the full-back’s legs. Mandzukic stepped up and smashed the penalty through the middle of Claudio Bravo’s net.
It made for an uncomfortable half-hour, with Atleti beginning to show signs of improvement. Fernando Torres was introduced to a chorus of boos, and he came a split-second away from meeting Mandzukic’s tantalising low cross, Bravo’s quick-thinking allowing the Chilean to smother the ball.
However, they struggled to maintain their renewed intensity, and Barca regained their composure and authority on the encounter not before long. Tiago’s long-range effort from distance stung the palms of Bravo, while Messi fired a snapshot into Moya’s grateful gloves.
With Los Colchoneros’ only further contributions coming in the form of clashes with opposition players – Diego Godin and Raul Garcia on Suarez and Neymar respectively – it was left to Messi to round off the win with an opportunistic finish, capitalising on confusion in the Atleti box.
Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid
Neymar 12, Suarez 35, Messi 87 (B), Mandzukic pen 57 (A)
Barcelona: Bravo; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba; Rakitic (Rafinha 89), Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez (Pedro 90+1), Neymar.
Atletico Madrid: Moya; Juanfran, Godin, Gimenez, Gamez (Siqueira 83); Koke, Tiago, Gabi (Torres 68), Arda; Griezmann (Raul Garcia 74), Mandzukic.
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco
