Match ends, Barcelona 1, Atlético de Madrid 1.
Barcelona failed to narrow the gap on league leaders Real Madrid as they were held by title rivals Atletico Madrid.
After failing to unpick Atletico's defence with intricate passing, the hosts took the lead as Ivan Rakitic glanced in Andres Iniesta's cross.
Lionel Messi was forced off with an injury on the hour and Atletico took quick advantage as Angel Correa danced through the defence to equalise.
Gerard Pique and Diego Godin went close but neither La Liga side could score.
A point means Luis Enrique's side could only match Real's earlier draw with Villarreal as they remain third in the league behind their fiercest rivals and Sevilla.
Messi misery
The hosts were undoubtedly rocked by the loss of Messi on 59 minutes, with Barcelona subsequently tweeting the star striker will be out for three weeks.
A seemingly innocuous challenge from Godin saw the Argentine forced to hobble off with a recurrence of the groin injury that forced him to fly back early from international duty this month for treatment.
The hosts then switched off shortly after, allowing Correa to burst through largely untroubled and equalise for Atletico.
Without the spark provided by Messi and the organisation of Busquets, who also was withdrawn through injury shortly after the break, Barcelona lost their way.
Simeone's super subs
Diego Simeone's tactical acumen is no secret but the Atletico boss proved his shrewdness once again as his double substitution resulted in instant success.
Kevin Gameiro and the ineffectual Saul were taken off for Fernando Torres and Correa, with the former providing a deft flick for Correa to run on to, taking advantage of Javier Mascherano's slip to pick his spot and slot the ball inside Marc-Andre ter Stegen's near post.
Simeone took full advantage of the misfortune suffered by Barcelona's own Argentine master as he urged his side forward against an increasingly ragged opposition.
And had Ter Stegen not produced a fine fingertip save in the final moments to deny Godin's powerful header, then Simeone would have been celebrating another underdog victory.
Defensive duo
In a match full of attacking talents, both sides also showed their defensive strength, as exemplified by Godin and Pique.
Both centre-backs organised their defences brilliantly and each had a chance to win the tie for their sides as they stole a march on their respective markers to go close late on.
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 20Roberto Carnicer
- 3Piqué
- 14Mascherano
- 18AlbaBooked at 90mins
- 4Rakitic
- 5BusquetsSubstituted forAndré Gomesat 51'minutes
- 8Iniesta
- 10MessiSubstituted forTuranat 59'minutes
- 9SuárezBooked at 84mins
- 11Neymar
Substitutes
- 6D Suárez
- 7Turan
- 13Cillessen
- 17Alcácer
- 19Digne
- 21André Gomes
- 24Mathieu
Atl Madrid
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Oblak
- 20Torres Belén
- 15Savic
- 2Godín
- 3Filipe LuísBooked at 86mins
- 8SaúlSubstituted forTorresat 60'minutes
- 14Fernández Arenas
- 7GriezmannBooked at 67mins
- 6KokeBooked at 54mins
- 10CarrascoSubstituted forParteyat 73'minutesBooked at 82mins
- 21GameiroSubstituted forCorreaat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Torres
- 11Correa
- 19Hernández
- 22Partey
- 23Gaitán
- 24Giménez de Vargas
- 25Campos Moreira
- Referee:
- David José Fernández Borbalán
- Attendance:
- 87,315
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home70%
- Away30%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away4
- Corners
- Home8
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 1, Atlético de Madrid 1.
Post update
André Gomes (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Fernando Torres (Atlético de Madrid).
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Attempt missed. Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Neymar following a corner.
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Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Juanfran.
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Attempt blocked. Neymar (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrés Iniesta.
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Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Juanfran (Atlético de Madrid).
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Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Thomas Partey (Atlético de Madrid).
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Offside, Atlético de Madrid. Koke tries a through ball, but Juanfran is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Koke (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Booking
Jordi Alba (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt missed. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sergi Roberto.
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Corner, Atlético de Madrid. Conceded by Marc-André ter Stegen.
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Attempt saved. Diego Godín (Atlético de Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Koke with a cross.
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Foul by André Gomes (Barcelona).
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Juanfran (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Booking
Filipe Luis (Atlético de Madrid) is shown the yellow card.