Barcelona loanee Joao Felix scored to consign parent club Atletico Madrid to their first home loss in La Liga this season.
The forward rounded off a neat passing move in the 38th minute, just before manager Xavi was sent off for dissent.
Robert Lewandowski doubled Barcelona’s lead, before Fermin Lopez sealed the success in the 65th minute when heading in from close range.
Barcelona moved above Girona into second place with Atletico fifth.
Hosts Atletico started strongly but were guilty of being wasteful as Alvaro Morata spurned two good opportunities, prior to Felix – who also scored in Barcelona’s 1-0 win against Atletico in December’s reverse fixture – breaking the deadlock.
The Portugal forward, who joined Barca on loan at the start of the season from Atleti, prodded home to put the visitors in command.
Atletico’s midweek Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Inter Milan, which they won after extra time and penalties, appeared to have taken a toll in the second half as their energy levels dropped.
Lewandowski was clinical with his chance just two minutes into the second half, firing off the inside of the post. Lopez was then in acres of space when he met a floated cross from the Polish striker to give the defending league champions – who are eight points behind leaders Real Madrid – breathing space.
Argentine defender Nahuel Molina was shown a red card in stoppage time for a foul on Barcelona forward Vitor Roque as he raced clear on goal.
It was the first time Diego Simeone’s side have lost a league fixture at Wanda Metropolitano since January 2023 when Barcelona won 1-0.
Line-ups
Atl Madrid
Formation 3-4-3
- 13Oblak
- 15SavicBooked at 61mins
- 20Witsel
- 23Isnard Mandava
- 16MolinaBooked at 90mins
- 5De PaulBooked at 46minsSubstituted forSaúlat 66′minutes
- 24BarriosBooked at 89mins
- 12Dias LinoSubstituted forGriezmannat 45′minutes
- 14LlorenteSubstituted forKokeat 58′minutes
- 19MorataSubstituted forDepayat 45′minutes
- 17RiquelmeSubstituted forCorreaat 58′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Moldovan
- 3Azpilicueta
- 4Gabriel
- 6Koke
- 7Griezmann
- 8Saúl
- 9Depay
- 10Correa
- 18Vermeeren
- 31Gomis
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 23KoundéBooked at 33mins
- 4Araujo
- 33Cubarsí
- 39FortSubstituted forCasadóat 82′minutes
- 16LópezSubstituted forMartínezat 82′minutes
- 22Gündogan
- 20RobertoSubstituted forRomeuat 77′minutes
- 11RaphinhaSubstituted forYamalat 60′minutes
- 9Lewandowski
- 14João FélixSubstituted forRoque Ferreiraat 77′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Martínez
- 13Peña Sotorres
- 15Christensen
- 17Alonso
- 18Romeu
- 19Roque Ferreira
- 27Yamal
- 30Casadó
- 31Kochen
- 38Guiu
- Referee:
- José María Sánchez Martínez
- Attendance:
- 68,253
Live Text
-
Match ends, Atletico Madrid 0, Barcelona 3.
-
Second Half ends, Atletico Madrid 0, Barcelona 3.
-
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ilkay Gündogan following a set piece situation.
-
Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid) is shown the red card.
-
Vitor Roque (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Foul by Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid).
-
Foul by Vitor Roque (Barcelona).
-
Koke (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Attempt saved. Ilkay Gündogan (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
-
Marc Casadó (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Foul by Koke (Atletico Madrid).
-
Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Marc Casadó (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Pablo Barrios (Atletico Madrid).
-
Vitor Roque (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
-
Foul by Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid).
-
Attempt missed. Saúl Ñíguez (Atletico Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
-
Attempt saved. Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nahuel Molina.
-
Foul by Lamine Yamal (Barcelona).
-
Reinildo (Atletico Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
