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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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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico20135234132144
2Real Madrid19134243192443
3Barcelona20123552232939
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal198653431330
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad198471713428
8GironaGirona208482827128
9Sevilla207582329-626
10Rayo Vallecano196762222025
11Real BetisBetis206772226-425
12Osasuna196762328-525
13Celta Vigo197392830-224
14Las PalmasLas Palmas196492429-522
15Leganes205781929-1022
16Getafe204881417-320
17AlavesAlaves2055102432-820
18Espanyol2054111932-1319
19Real ValladolidValladolid2043131439-2515
20Valencia1927101829-1113


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