Barcelona’s punch decided the match
Barcelona scored first in the 1st half and that advantage was decisive. Mandzukic scored from a penalty, but Messi made it 3-1 in the final minutes.
BARCELONA 3 – 1 ATLÉTICO
Barcelona: Bravo; Alves, Piqué, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar.
Atlético de Madrid: Moyá; Juanfran, Giménez, Godín, Gámez (Siqueira, 83’); Arda Turan, Gabi (Fernando Torres, 68’), Tiago, Koke; Griezmann (Raúl García, 74’) and Mandžukić.
Referee: Undiano Mallenco (Committee of Navarre). He booked the locals Luis Suárez (58’), Messi (80’); and the visiting Gámez (20’), Mandžukić (33’), Juanfran (50’), Tiago (65’), Griezmann (69’), Godín (83’).
GOALS:
1-0. 12’. Neymar pushes into the net of the far post a cross from Messi touched by Luis Suárez.
2-0. 35’. Luis Suárez receives from Messi, who controls with his arm and scores.
2-1. 57’. Mandžukić, from a penalty committed by Messi against Gámez
3-1. 87’. Messi takes advantage of a loose ball inside the box.
Atlético de Madrid took the the field of the Camp Nou with a heavy pressure and with the objective to score, but with no clear scoring occasions. Barcelona took the lead on a fortunate play, with a cross from Messi, Luis Suárez did enough to stop Juanfran from clearing the ball and Neymar, from close range, scored the 1-0. It was Barcelona’s first shot on goal and they opened the scoreboard.
Barcelona was comfortable and pushing towards Moyá’s goal. Neymar headed the ball out in the 23' minute and soon after, Moyá saved a shot by Messi with a masterful hand. Then came the second goal on a controversial play with Messi using his hand to control the ball on the play which ended with a goal from Luis Suárez to make it 2-0.
Simeone's team came out with renewed vigour in the second half and soon after, a penalty from Messi on a breakaway by Gámez that ended with a penalty and a goal from Mandžukić. There was half an hour left and Atlético saw it was possible to turn the game around. In addition, Simeone decided to substitute Torres for Gabi midway through the second half to seek greater presence in the attack when looking for the goal.
The match became intense, but Barcelona was luckier in the search of the goal, and managed to decide the match three minutes before full time with a goal from Messi, who was presented with a rebound in the box he pushed into the net. Now, we have to focus on Thursday’s Cup fixture at the Bernabéu.
