Messi free kick gives Barcelona win v Atletico, extends lead

Or maybe not. ‘There was always going to be a title race, ‘ said Zinedine Zidane on Friday.

“Tomorrow’s match is an important one”, Atletico chief coach Diego Simeone admitted, as reported by the capital club’s Twitter handle. 2012 to 2014 was unique.

Messi was happy to play second fiddle at times and play short, sharp passes to a onrushing Coutinho, who eerily looked like the Barca legend at times on the run with the ball.

However, Antoine Griezmann is in red-hot form for the visitors, after netting back-to-back hat-tricks in their last two games.

“We are sure the Camp Nou will respond due to the importance of the match”.

Lionel Messi fired Barca ahead in the 21st minute with a thunderous free-kick into the top corner but third-bottom Las Palmas pulled themselves back into the game with a penalty by Jonathan Calleri three minutes into the second half. Diego Godin has played with Luis Suarez for years for the national team and will know how the striker operates, thinks and moves around the box.

A win by Atletico this weekend could potentially cut Barcelona’s lead to one point entering the final stretch of games.

Atletico entered the match with the best defense in La Liga with only 11 goals previously conceded. Atletico’s exit from the Champions League was surprising, but they now have no distractions as their stars are aligning at the right time in La Liga.

Those two will set a huge test for a Barcelona defence that has looked less sure of itself since Samuel Umtiti returned from injury not looking quite the same player that dominated the first three months of the season.

Atletico Madrid have lost just the solitary game this season, away to Espanyol, remaining just five points behind their title rivals.

Barcelona were under pressure after Atletico demolished Leganes 4-0 to pull within four points of the Catalan powerhouse. They are by far La Liga’s form team. Despite having made a decision to stay at the club to support them during their transfer ban, the Frenchman was initially unsettled, but has been professional throughout and is now back to his best. “Barcelona is having a fantastic season”.

Barcelona took a giant stride towards regaining the title as Lionel Messi’s 600th career goal earned a 1-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in La Liga.

In the first meeting between these sides this season, Barcelona were able to escape with a 1-1 draw after Saurez scored a late equalizer.