The match came to a head in the 87th minute with a dramatic moment. João Cancelo skilfully intercepted the ball inside the box and struck it powerfully from a tight angle; Musso parried it, but the ball rebounded straight onto the chest of Robert Lewandowski, who wasn’t expecting it, and found the net in what was a thoroughly ‘lucky’ goal.
Atlético tried to respond in the 84th minute with a counter-attack towards Alexander Sørloth, but a heavy touch squandered the chance.
The match ended with a 2-1 win for Barcelona, confirming the team’s worthiness of top spot despite the difficulty of the away fixture.
This clash will be just the first chapter in a series of fiery battles, as the two sides prepare for a decisive encounter next Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.