Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona: Lionel Messi and Neymar to the rescue after Fernando Torres' clinical opener at Vicente Calderon

  • After a goalless first-half Fernando Torres opened the scoring at the Vicente Calderon for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona
  • But the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker's 51st minute goal was quickly cancelled out by a fabulous Neymar equaliser
  • Lionel Messi came on for Ivan Rakitic on the hour mark and dinked in the winner for Luis Enrique's visitors on 77 minutes 

Lionel Messi doesn't often start on the bench but usually does end up making the difference, and that's what happened here, with his goal maintaining Barcelona's 100 per cent start to La Liga and ending Atletico Madrid's.

A stunning flick by Luis Suarez played in Messi, who finished from close range to round off a magical week for him, his winner coming the day after the birth of his second son, Mateo.

Diego Simeone's poor record against Barcelona has now worsened, with the coach only recording one win in 14 matches against the Catalans, who passed a gruelling test at the Vicente Calderon thanks to the help of their three brilliant forwards.

Lionel Messi came on for Ivan Rakitic on the hour mark and dinked in Barcelona's winner on 77 minutes

Lionel Messi came on for Ivan Rakitic on the hour mark and dinked in Barcelona's winner on 77 minutes

The 28-year-old points at Luis Suarez (not pictured) after the former Liverpool man's sublime pass

The 28-year-old points at Luis Suarez (not pictured) after the former Liverpool man's sublime pass

MATCH FACTS 

ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak, Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis, Oliver (Carrasco 60), Gabi (Vietto 81), Tiago, Koke, Griezmann, Torres (Martinez 61).

Subs not used: Moya Rumbo, Savic, Niguez, Gamez Duarte

Booked: Oliver, Filipe Luis, Gimenez. 

Goal: Torres 51.

BARCELONA: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Vermaelen (Mathieu 26), Mascherano, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic (Messi 59), Iniesta, Rafinha, Suarez, Neymar.

Subs not used: Bartra, El Haddadi, Ramirez, Adriano, Masip.

Booked: Iniesta.

Goals: Neymar 55, Messi 77.

It was Messi who scored the winner and Suarez who made it, but Neymar equalised for Barcelona with a sublime free-kick after Fernando Torres had sent Atletico ahead, repaying Simeone's faith in the veteran hitman.

Atletico came into this game with no problems, given Filipe Luis' injury trouble cleared up in the days preceding the match. Barcelona, on the other hand, were still without some key players.

Three of their first choice rear-guard missed this tie, with Claudio Bravo and Dani Alves injured, and Gerard Pique still suspended after his foul-mouthed outburst during the Spanish Super Cup.

Of course, the biggest miss was Messi, placed on the bench after he missed training on Friday to be with his partner for the birth. He had arrived back from international duty with Argentina in the United States on Thursday, and between the two events Luis Enrique deemed him too tired to start.

In Messi's stead, Neymar became the protagonist, but that was always likely to be the case in this stadium. Atletico Madrid supporters despise the Brazilian, whose flicks and tricks against them several times last season were deemed provocative, by players and supporters alike.

 Messi (left) runs past Atletico's former Chelsea left back Filipe Luis at the Vicente Calderon

 Messi (left) runs past Atletico's former Chelsea left back Filipe Luis at the Vicente Calderon

A driving run by Ivan Rakitic down the right helped Barcelona cause danger in the Rojiblanco box, but Suarez's cross eventually evaded everyone. Another ball in from the Uruguayan sought Rafinha, but although the man picked to stand in for Messi flung himself at the ball, he could not get more than a hair on it.

At the other end Torres, who Diego Simeone picked over big-money summer signing Jackson Martinez, was played in but whistled a strike over the bar. The best chance of the half fell to his opposite number, Luis Suarez, who hit the bar from close range after Rafinha flicked on a corner.

However, the main two topics of note from the first half were two Barcelona penalty appeals against Jose Gimenez, both rejected by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz. The first saw a Rakitic cross blocked by the Uruguayan's arm at close distance, which would have been a bit harsh. The second was a similarly difficult call, Gimenez flinging himself forward to block a Neymar shot, the ball bouncing off his chest and then his arm.

The Argentine maestro (left) skips past Atletico's 32-year-old captain Gabi after coming on

The Argentine maestro (left) skips past Atletico's 32-year-old captain Gabi after coming on

It was a lightning counter-attack by Barcelona and even without Gimenez's intervention should have resulted in a goal. Neymar had Suarez, who played him in earlier in the move, to his left, and Rakitic breaking forward to his right, but opted to go for goal himself.

Barcelona's already depleted defence was further damaged in the first half, when Thomas Vermaelen hobbled off. The former Arsenal defender has enjoyed an excellent start to the season in Pique's stead, but it was ended here, with Jeremy Mathieu replacing him.

The second half began much as the first ended, with an unpunished handball. This time Javier Mascherano was the culprit, blocking a strike with his arm, leading to howls of disbelief from Atletico supporters as Mateu Lahoz waved 'play on'.

Disbelief was an emotion which stayed with the minutes later, when Tiago played a perfect through-ball for Torres, who burst into the box. Marc Andre ter Stegen, making his La Liga debut despite winning the Champions League and Copa del Rey last season, didn't rush out with his usual enthusiasm. 

Uruguayan striker Suarez (left) was a constant threat for Luis Enrique's visitors

Uruguayan striker Suarez (left) was a constant threat for Luis Enrique's visitors

Torres took advantage, angling a low strike in off the far post, his 10th career goal against Barcelona in 16 matches.

The ball bobbled as it made its way home, with time seeming to hang still in the air. But Barcelona's equaliser seemed to come instantaneously. With Messi still on the bench, Neymar took responsibility for a free kick on the left-hand side of the box. His strike was inch-perfect, flying past Jan Oblak and into the top left corner.

And on came Messi—the world's best player is not a bad reinforcement to have on the bench. Likewise, although to a lesser extent, Martinez, who replaced Torres. Things went far better for one than the other.

Neymar (centre) celebrates his fabulous equalizer with Sergi Roberto (left) and Jordi Alba (right)

Neymar (centre) celebrates his fabulous equalizer with Sergi Roberto (left) and Jordi Alba (right)

Messi helped work a clever short corner into Neymar's path, but when the forward's shot was blocked on the line by Diego Godin's hand, Mateu Lahoz turned the penalty shout down yet again. This was the clearest of the four appeals for handball and yet the referee still refused to award a spot kick.

But when Suarez cutely nudged the ball around the corner and into Messi's path, the Argentine fired past Oblak to earn Barcelona the win they merited on the balance of the game. Martinez had a late chance but fluffed his lines, with Ter Stegen gratefully collecting his weak effort.

Luis Enrique expected a war, and he got one, but Barcelona ended up the victors, inflicting only the third defeat in 39 home league games - having already earned one of the other two with their triumph here in May, which saw them lift La Liga.

This was the first of seven games in 22 days for Barcelona, including difficult away trips against Roma and Sevilla, but his side passed this test with flying colours, despite their depleted squad.

Fernando Torres (left) slides on his knees  with team-mate Antoine Griezmann after his 51st minute goal

Fernando Torres (left) slides on his knees with team-mate Antoine Griezmann after his 51st minute goal

 

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