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Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona

Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona
© PA Photos
Lionel Messi's free kick 10 minutes from time earns Barcelona a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid.

Lionel Messi's free kick 10 minutes from time has earned Barcelona a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid.

The Argentine thought that he chipped his side into a seventh-minute lead, but the goal was ruled out for handball.

Barca came close on 19 minutes when Xavi Hernandez saw his free kick saved by Thibaut Courtois.

The visitors made the breakthrough 10 minutes before the break as Dani Alves tapped in following a passing move involving Messi and Cesc Fabregas.

Atletico were level just three minutes into the second half as Falcao pounced in the area from a corner.

Alexis Sanchez headed over after the hour for the away team before Messi swept his free kick into the top corner to claim a vital win for the Catalan side.

Barca are now 10 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid, who won 1-0 at Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day.

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Real Madrid18124241182340
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia172691626-1012
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


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