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16:57 - Thank ypu for joining me for VAVEL's coverage of Barcelona - Atletico Madrid you can find me on Twitter @Danialkennedy95 and until next time have a great afternoon!

16:56 - The win certifys Barca as the league leaders on 51 points while Atleti remain in 2nd with 48 points

16:55 - The second period couldnt quite live up to the first with the dismissal of Godin been the only real highlight but Barca managed to play out the second 45 top claim the points

16:54 - It was a great start from Simeone's side with Koke's opener  but goals from Suarez and Messi and the dismissal of Luis set the tone for the second half

16:52 - Full time at the Nou Camp and it is Barca who have extended their lead at the top of La Liga to three points

FT - Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid

92' - Good chance for Turan as he gets behind his former teams defence but is flagged offside three points look all but sealed

90' - One chance for Atleti as the ball is lumped forward but to no avail three minutes of extra time at the Nou Camp

82' - Messi managed to run into the area and attempted to pull it back but Gamez is there to clear. Enrique makes another change with Roberto coming on for Alves

80' - Turan had the opportunity to put the game to bed when he was found unmarked in the area but he fired wide. Alves tried from 20 yards out but he put it just wide of post. still 2-1

76' - Gets even worse for Atleti with Augusto going off injure after been clipped by Iniesta and is replaced by Thomas

68' - Messi comes close as he tries the free kick from a tight angle but Oblak did well to beat it away still 2-1

67' - Barca make the first sub of thr afternoon with Turan coming on to face his old club in place of Rakitic. Atleti also make a sub with Griezmann coming off for Savic

65' - Atleti are down to nine! Godin fliews into the tackle on Suarez and the referee has no choivr but to produce a second yellow for the defender! Looks a impossible task for Simeone's team now

61' - Just gone past the hour mark and despite been a man down Atleti are keeping the pressure on and look the most likely the score but it still remains 2-1

57' - Bravo produces yet another great save this time from Griezmann as the Frenchman looks certain to score from the cross from point blank range but the keeper somehow keeps it out

56' - Great solo effort from Carrasco as he manages three or four players on his 60 yard ru but is evemtaully stopped by Pique

54' - Godin prevented what could have been a third for Barca as he stretched to prevent Messi's pass finding Suarez. Still 2-1 to the home side

46' - Back underway at the Nou Camp!

15:51 - Coverage of the second half will be following very soon

15:50 - It was Atleti who started brightest taking the lead after ten minutes through Koke but goals from Suarez and Messi sees them behind and with Luis' dismissal late on Simeone's side could have a mountain to climb in the second half

1549 - What a half it has been!

HT - Barcelona 2-1 Atletico Madrid

45' - It gets worse for Atleti as they have been reduced to ten men and rightlty so with Luis been dismissed for a highly challenge on Messi 

43' - Neymar has a crack at making it three with his effort from wo yards but it is blocked by Gimenez

42' - Another booking for Simeone's side with Juanfran ending up in the book for hacking down for Neymar which has seen him suspended for the next game. Three minutes unti half time still 2-1 Barca

38' - Enrique's side are in the lead! a great ball over the top from Alves finds Suarez who does brilliantly to slip it through the legs of Oblak from the tight angle. Cracking game so far

38' - GOAL Barcelona 2-1 Ateltico Madrid

37' - A great move from Atleti finds Griezmann but the Frenchman fires over the crossbar! still 1-1

30' - Barca are back in it! the returning Alba gets down the left flank and manages to pick out Messi who maages brilliantly to put it past Oblak with the first time effort 1-1

30' - GOAL Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid

29' - Barcelona's best chance so far fell to Suarez as the ball came to him in the area he hit it first time but Oblak does well to keep out his effort

28' - A brilliant 40 yard pass from Rakitic finds Messi in the area but the Argentine loses his footing as he attemots to turn and shoot

25 - First bookings of the afternoon go to Godin and Gabi with latter bringing down Rakitic for the free kick but Messi's effort goes past the post

20 - Atletico re on the hunt for their second with Augusto trying an effort from 25 yards but it went just wide of the mark

17' - The ball fell to Alves in the area whose volley looked destined for the bottom corner but Carrasco did brilliantly to block and keep Atleti's lead intact still 1-0

10' - The visitors are ahead! Saul managed to work his way out of the situation and played the ball into the area which found a unmarked Koke who cooly put it past Bravo 1-0 Atleti !

10' - GOAL Barcelona 0-1 Atletico Madrid

9' - Poor pass from Alves is taken up by Luis but Pique is there to sweep up the mess

3' - Bravo is called upon early when Saul tried a powerful curling effort but he did well to save

1' - And we are underway at the Nou Camp !

14:55 - Little over five minutes until kick-off at the Camp Nou

14:52 - Simeone has made two changes after their midweek exit from the Copa del Rey with keeper Oblak comes back in for Moya, while Gabi replaces Vietto.

14:49 - Luis Enrique has made four changes from the midweek victory over Atheltic Bilbao with Bravo taking his place back in goal ahead of Ter Stegen, while Alba, Busquets and Iniesta come in for Vermaelen, Mathieu and Roberto

14:48 - Atletico Madrid starting XI: Oblak, Juanfran, Godin, Gimenez, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Augusto, Koke, Saul, Carrasco, Griezmann

14:47 - Barcelona starting XI: Bravo, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Alba, Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta, Suarez, Messi, Neymar

14:43 - Team news to follow shortly

14:41 - It is the two in form sides from La Liga that are clashing today with both sitting at the top of the table level on points and both boasting perfect records it has the ingredients to  be a classic

14:40 - Hello everyone I am Danial Kennedy and welcome to VAVEL's coverage of Barcelona - Atletico Madrid

It was very close contest at Calderon in the reverse fixture back in September. Torres opened the scoring for the hosts but goals from Neymar and Lionel Messi gave Enrique's side the three points.

There has been some excellent contests between these two sides in recent years with Madrid winning the title two years ago at the Nou Camp.

​The only injury concerns for Simeone continue to be Tiago and Fernando Torres while Angel Correra will miss out after he accumulated five bookings. There doesn't seem to be many changes tactically with Luciano Vietto is expected to be preferred to Jackson Martinez.

Saturday will also see the return of Jordi Alba from a hamstring injury with Enrique telling Sky Sports “they’re totally fine”. Jeremy Mathieu will be waiting in the wings if needed for the Spaniard while Pique is expected to return league action after suspension.

A big boost for Enrique will be the availability of superstar Neymar even though the Brazilian has been struggling with a foot injury he is likely to be thrown into this crucial contest.

Despite their defeat Simeone will be optimistic as they have only lost one in their last 24 matches and conceded eight league goals in 21 matches and with Barca boasting their records it could prove to be a great contest.

Hernandez managed to head home a third before Angel Correa struck late on but it wasn’t enough to prevent Vigo reaching their first Copa del Rey semi-final in 15 years.

Unfortunately it was Simeone’s side that crashed out with Pablo Hernandez giving the visitors the lead before inform Antoine Griezmann leveled the proceedings. The difference came from John Guidetti with his 35-yard spectacular regaining Vigo’s lead.

It got from bad to worse in midweek when they crashed out of the Copa Del Rey. After their goalless draw Madrid and Vigo met once again at the Vincente Calderon to decide who make the passage into the semi-finals of the competition.

However they have stalled in recent week which has saw them take a tumble with two goalless draws against both Celta Vigo and Sevilla.

Diego Simeone’s side are currently neck and neck with their opponents and still within a great opportunity of lifting the title.

It was Luis Enrique’s side who came out on top with Luis Suarez becoming the first player in Europe to reach 30 goals and another two from Gerard Pique and Neymar cancelling out Inaki Williams' early opener to give them an easy passage into the semi-finals and stretch their unbeaten record to 25.

They kept that form in midweek when they took on Athletic Bilbao in the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash.

Since their 0-0 draw with Espanyol at the beginning of January they have been in superb form winning the last six games in all competitions scoring an impressive 20 goals in that time.

Barcelona have somehow managed to  improve on their form even by their impeccably high standards and are well on course to sweep the major honours once again at the season and break many more records.

Saturday afternoon is set to hold one of the biggest matches of La Liga season with Barcelona hosting fellow title contenders Atletico Madrid at the Nou Camp.

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About the author
Danial  Kennedy
Award-winning sports journalism graduate. Currently studying a PR Masters at the University of Sunderland. Writing for VAVEL since August 2014. Twitter - @ddkjournalism.