We’re into the first of three minutes added time, and Suarez has just gone close with a delicate chip towards the back post.
89'
Atleti are piling on the pressure now, but still no sign of a breakthrough, as Koke’s cross is hammered clear by Alba. Suarez hunts down the loose ball, and draws a foul from Godin.
86'
NO GOAL! Gameiro has just hammered in what he thought was an equaliser after latching onto Costa’s knock down, only for Atleti’s celebrations to be cut short by the offside flag.
84'
Paulinho enters the game and replaces Philippe Coutinho.
A second change now from Barca. Philippe Coutinho makes way, with Paulinho coming on.
83'
Simeone is understandably furious at the official, who has once again brought play back for an injury that wasn’t a head injury - with Suarez down holding his knee - preventing an Atleti counter.
81'
Some neat play from Partey, who sprints hard to get in behind Barca’s line. He should have received the ball from Correa, but the winger instead flicks it on to Costa, who is bundled off the ball.
80'
It’s an incredibly open encounter now at Camp Nou, as Atleti look to get back on the front foot, while Barca are in search of a second to secure all the points. Coutinho weaves his way brilliantly into the area with some fantastic skill, but Saul gets across to make a top-class challenge.
79'
CLOSE! Messi delivers an exceptional in-swinging corner that falls to Busquets at the back post, but Oblak reacts to keep out the midfielder’s volley.
78'
Vital defending from Gimenez, who does well to stand firm against Messi and get a block on the Argentine’s strike. Barca have switched it up a gear, and now it’s Atleti who are on the back foot.
77'
NO GOAL! Suarez tucks home from close range, but the effort is swiftly - and correctly - ruled out for offside, despite the Uruguayan’s protests.
Minute
Description
75'
Here's Atleti's final substitution - Filipe Luis replaced by Lucas Hernandez.
74'
L. Hernández enters the game and replaces Filipe Luís.
Poor from Griezmann, who snatches at a shot from around 20 yards out following fine build-up play from Atleti’s forward line.
73'
Atleti are well on top, but still they can’t trouble Ter Stegen. Barca must be careful they don’t hand too much impetus to the visitors, however, and Valverde could well look to his bench sooner rather than later.
71'
A third and final change is coming up for Atleti, but first Saul whips in a free-kick from the left. The cross is a good one, but Ter Stegen rushes out to claim it.
69'
I. Rakitić gets yellow.
A booking for Rakitic, who is forced into a foul to prevent Gameiro getting through. Atleti are really forcing the issue now.
66'
K. Gameiro enters the game and replaces Gabi.
Another attacking switch from Simeone, who replaces Gabi with Kevin Gameiro. It looks like Saul and Koke will play centrally, with Griezmann on the left and Gameiro joining Costa up top.
65'
Atleti are building some decent pressure now, but Barca’s defensive duo of Pique and Umtiti have just squandered some good chances to double the hosts’ lead - both heading over from two successive Coutinho corners.
64'
Koke’s cross is cleared at the second attempt, and Messi looks to release Suarez. For once, though, the Argentine’s pass is a poor one, and Filipe Luis is on hand to intercept.
63'
Clumsy play from Umtiti, who shoves Costa down to the turf despite the fact that the striker was not heading anywhere, and Koke now has the chance to deliver the free-kick…
62'
Finally, Atleti work the ball into Griezmann in a forward area. The France striker tries his luck with a first-time effort from the edge of the area, but he gets far too much on it and it sails wide.
61'
Pique has recovered from that earlier knock, and will continue. Meanwhile, Rakitic plays a rather sloppy back pass, but Ter Stegen reacts quickly to cover ahead of Griezmann.
59'
Á. Correa enters the game and replaces Š. Vrsaljko.
While Pique receives treatment, Simeone makes his first change, and it is certainly an attacking one. Some Vrsaljko is going off, with Angel Correa coming on, and it looks as though Partey will switch to right-back.
58'
Messi looks to repeat his feat from the first half, but this time his strike deflects away off the Atleti wall. Barca look to keep up the pressure, but a rough challenge from Partey on Pique forces the play to stop.
57'
J. Giménez gets yellow.
That’s a booking for Gimenez, who is forced into a vital challenge to prevent Rakitic getting into the area. It hands Barca a free-kick 20 yards out from goal, though…
54'
Despite Atleti’s renewed attacking vigour, they still haven’t managed to really test Barca, or get Griezmann on the ball in the final third. Defensively the visitors are pushing out higher, and that of course leaves the risk of Suarez, Messi or Coutinho getting in behind.
52'
Atleti have certainly improved since the restart, with the full-backs pushed much further on, which is enabling Saul and Koke to cut inside and influence the build-up play. As I write, Gabs whips in a free-kick that is cleared only as far as Saul, but his strike is way-off target.
49'
STAT - Simeone has won just twice in his last 22 managerial games against Barcelona in all competitions, neither of which were in LaLiga.
47'
Brilliant defending from Gimenez, who recovers just in time to prevent Messi getting on the end of Suarez’s cut-back.
46'
The second half is underway at Camp Nou.
45'
Barcelona have not lost in their last 29 LaLiga games at home, winning 24 and drawing five, and they are on course to extend that run to 30 at the moment.
42'
Gomes is playing as the right midfielder for Barca now, with Coutinho filling in for Iniesta on the left, and that is giving the former Liverpool star the freedom to cut inside onto his strong foot and get more involved with Barca’s play.
41'
Atleti have simply not got Costa or Griezmann involved enough so far today, while the visitors’ midfield duo of Gabi and Partey is getting overrun on far too many occasions. As I type, only a last-ditch interception from Godin prevents Gomes gets on the end of a cross from the left.
38'
Coutinho drills a powerful strike at goal, but once again, Oblak is well-placed to parry it clear of danger at the near post.
36'
André Gomes enters the game and replaces Andrés Iniesta.
An early change for Barca, and evidently, Iniesta hasn’t been able to overcome that hamstring niggle. He is making way, with Andre Gomes coming on.
34'
CHANCE! Smart combination play between Suarez and his former Liverpool team-mate Coutinho sees the latter find enough space to get a shot off, but it lacks the power to beat Oblak.
32'
Huge claims for a penalty from Suarez, whose close-range strike is blocked by Vrsaljko. The Uruguayan is appealing for a handball, but the Atleti defender blocked the shot fairly.
31'
Š. Vrsaljko gets yellow.
The Camp Nou crowd are not happy with the official now, though Atleti do now have a player in the book - Vrsaljko having cynically brought down Suarez.
30'
L. Messi gets yellow.
The referee has to start exerting some authority here, as he risks losing control of this one. Messi and Filipe Luis collide down on the right touchline, with the Barca man staying down, before receiving a booking for his troubles.
28'
It was simply sublime from Messi, who has sparked this game into life with that effort. That’s his 600th career goal!
26'
L. Messi has scored a goal for Barcelona!
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLL!!!! WHAT A STRIKE FROM MESSI! Having won the free-kick, Messi steps up to get his effort up and over the wall and into the top-left corner. Oblak scrambles across to get a hand to it, but the shot had too much pace and dip on it.
25'
Barca are starting to find some space, now, as Suarez is put in behind only for his strike to be blocked at the last moment. Messi picks up the loose ball, only to be scythed down by Partey. The foul was certainly worthy of a booking, but the referee lets it go.
24'
Paulhino, Andre Gomes and Ousmane Dembele have all been sent out to warm up down the touchline, but it appears that - for the time being at least - Iniesta will try to carry on.
23'
Well, Barca could be forced into a change here, as Iniesta goes down under pressure from Vrsaljko. It wasn’t the challenge that forced him down, however, but actually what appears to be a hamstring strain.
22'
Atleti respond with their first attempt of the match - Partey trying his luck from long range - but his strike does not test Ter Stegen.
21'
Superb skill from Messi, who somehow squeezes his way through three Atleti defenders before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box, but Oblak is on hand to make the stop.
19'
Atleti counter after Iniesta loses out in a collision with Saul, who leads the charge. The referee eventually stops the play after the Barca playmaker stays down, although there was no head injury and play really should have been allowed to continue.
17'
Simeone is now urging his side to step out a bit, with Coutinho and Iniesta both starting to find some space down their respective flanks. Still no chances to speak of, though.
14'
As Atleti's coach, Simeone has never lost against Valverde in LaLiga, winning six and drawing in his 10 fixtures against the former Athletic Bilbao boss, with his side scoring 18 goals whilst conceding just eight.
12'
Barca are well on top at the moment, but so far they haven’t been able to find a way through Atleti’s defence. It’s probably all part of the plan from Simeone, whose side are renowned for their defensive solidity in the big games. There could well be an opening for thE hosts now, after Gabi bundles over Suarez right on the edge of the box.
9'
Messi has scored 27 goals against Atleti in all competitions. He's only netted more against Sevilla.
7'
Messi finds space down the right, combining brilliantly with Iniesta before getting a shot off. It’s deflected towards goal, but Oblak is equal to it.
5'
Valverde is certainly giving Coutinho a lot of responsibility, with the Brazilian tasked with joining Barca’s strikers when in possession, but dropping back to a right-midfield berth when the hosts have to defend. That is giving Atleti some space to utilise on the counter, though, and they almost take advantage as Costa knocks a header down towards Saul, only for Pique to intervene.
4'
STAT - Barca have not lost any of their last 15 games against Ateti in LaLiga, winning 11 and drawing four. That's their best unbeaten run against them in the competition.
3'
It actually seems that Barca are lining up in a 4-3-3 system, with Iniesta tucking in from the left and Coutinho pushing up alongside Messi and Suarez.
1'
KICK-OFF! Atleti, donning their yellow away strip, get proceedings up and running!
Hello and welcome, football fans, to LIVE coverage of a huge clash in LaLiga, as league leaders Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou!
Barca looked to have had the league title all-but wrapped up a matter of weeks ago, but three draws in their last five LaLiga fixtures has opened the door for second-placed Atleti to close the gap.
Diego Simeone’s side have won their last six league games, and hammered Leganes 4-0 last time out. Should they win today, it would set up a grandstand finish to the LaLiga title race, with Atleti only five points behind Barca as it stands.
It promises to be a real cracker at Camp Nou this afternoon. Barca will be going all-out for a victory, which would take them eight points clear and really should signal the end of Atleti’s title hopes, but Simeone’s men thrive as underdogs, and are sure to present a huge test. Here’s the team news…
Four changes in total from Ernesto Valverde, who watched his side draw 1-1 with Las Palmas last time out. Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba return to Barca’s defence, while Paulinho is dropped from the midfield - Ivan Rakitic returning. On the right, club record-signing Philippe Coutinho comes in for Aleix Vidal. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez spearhead the attack.
Atleti (4-4-2): Oblak; Vrsaljko, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis; Saul Niguez, Gabi, Partey, Koke; Griezmann, Diego Costa.
Simeone has found success this season by switching back to the narrow 4-4-2 he employed during Atleti’s title-winning campaign in 2013-14. The return of Diego Costa, who has netted five goals in 10 appearances since making his second debut for the club, has helped that transition, while Antoine Griezmann has also been in sparkling form, scoring all four goals in Atleti’s victory over Leganes.
We’re just minutes away from kick-off at a rainy Camp Nou, as the team make their way out onto the pitch.
That’s it for the first half at Camp Nou, where Lionel Messi’s exquisite free-kick has given Barcelona a deserved 1-0 lead over Atletico Madrid.
Antoine Greizmann and Diego Costa have hardly had a kick at the other end, though, and Atleti must look to get their danger men into more potent attacking positions if they are to salvage a result.
Diego Simeone’s gameplan was clearly to stem Barca by sitting deep and hitting them on the counter, but the hosts have simply been too strong for Atleti, though they did require a moment of magic from Messi to break the deadlock.
It’s a crucial win for Barcelona, who are now eight points clear at the top of LaLiga, and really - barring a remarkable collapse - should be set to go on and claim the title.
FULL TIME! Barcelona have held firm to claim all three points, courtesy of Lionel Messi’s supreme first-half free-kick.
Atleti are Barca’s closest rivals this season, but Diego Simeone’s side were far from at their best today. Their first-half display was ultimately too negative, and Messi’s brilliance has proved the difference.
That’s all from me for now. Until next time, goodbye!
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