Barcelona 1-0 Atletico Madrid – Barca edge out visitors courtesy of Joao Felix goal in La Liga clash

Joao Felix scored against his parent club as Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to leapfrog them in the La Liga table and perhaps reignite a title charge.

Felix was in the thick of it all evening and scored the game’s only goal with a delicate chip, seconds after being stronger than the Atletico defender in a 50-50 tackle to set up the chance.

Barcelona should really have won by more goals, but out-of-form Robert Lewandowski missed two excellent chances while Raphinha hit the post.

Atleti manager Diego Simeone made a triple change at the interval, clearly unhappy with what he had seen, and despite a late rally his team could not score. He is now without a win in 17 away games versus Barcelona as a manager.

Memphis Depay came closest for the visitors with a free kick, but understudy Inaki Pena in the Barcelona goal acrobatically tipped the effort onto the crossbar.

Victory lifts Barca to third place on 34 points, four off Girona and leaders Real Madrid. Atletico have 31 points in fourth, as well as a game in hand.

Felix is still an Atleti player, and with Barcelona’s finances stretched it is very possible he’ll have to return to the club – at least temporarily – come the end of this season. Yet the Portuguese made little effort to not burn bridges with his parent club leading up to this match, then went and scored against them.

The goal itself was a lovely finish and a reminder of the quality which convinced Atleti to make Felix the fourth-most expensive player of all time. The extravagant celebration felt like it was sending a message too.

Atletico’s dangerous front two – Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata – were starved of chances and kept very quiet. Araujo played a major role in that, marshalling the Barcelona backline and giving those strikers no time on the ball.

Barcelona: Pena 7, Kounde 8, Araujo 8, Christensen 7, Cancelo 6, Pedri 7, Gundogan 7, De Jong 7, Raphinha 7, Lewandowski 5, Felix 8. Subs: Torres 5, Yamal 6, Fermin n/a.

Atletico Madrid: Oblak 7, Molina 5, Gimenez 5, Witsel 6, Hermoso 6, Riquelme 5, Llorente 6, Koke 5, De Paul 5, Griezmann 6, Morata 5. Subs: Azpilicueta 5, Lino 5, Correa 5, Memphis 6, Saul 5.

BIG MISS! 12′ – Barca put together a lovely move, playing in Kounde down the right and his cutback is straight to Lewandowski. Yet, eight yards out, the Pole hacks a volley wide.

GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 ATLETICO MADRID (FELIX) 28′ – It had to be him! Raphinha picks up the ball in space and comes inside. He plays a poor pass to Felix, but the Barca man wins a 50-50 before delightfully dinking the ball over Oblak to score from a tight angle.

GREAT SAVE! 44′ – Barca work it well on the left, Gundogan gets to the byline and cuts back to Felix – six yards out – who stabs goalwards. Oblak reads it perfectly and makes a reflex save.

OFF THE POST! 58′ – Raphinha plays a one-two with Pedri, cuts across the field and lets fly from range, striking the outside of the post.

OFF THE BAR! 80′ – Memphis takes the free kick, which is on the left edge of the box, and sends it towards the near top corner, but Pena tips onto the bar.