Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski scored an 87th-minute winner for Barcelona against 10-man Atletico Madrid, sending his side seven points clear at the top of Spain’s La Liga.<\/p>\n
In a bad-tempered match, Barca were heading for a frustrating draw against opponents who played the whole of the second half with 10 men following Nico Gonzalez’s straight red card at the end of the first half.<\/p>\n
After Atletico defeated Barca over two legs in the Copa del Rey semi-final, this was the fourth meeting between the two rivals this season, with another two fixtures to follow inside the next two weeks in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.<\/p>\n
In an incident-filled encounter, the home side took the lead through a well-placed finish by Giuliano Simeone, the son of Atletico boss Diego, in the 39th minute.<\/p>\n
But their lead lasted just three minutes, with England forward Marcus Rashford scoring through the legs of goalkeeper Juan Musso before Gonzalez was shown a straight red for denying Lamine Yamal a goalscoring opportunity.<\/p>\n
Substitute Marc Bernal wasted a golden chance to put Barca ahead deep in first-half stoppage time before more controversy early in the second half.<\/p>\n
Barca’s Gerard Martin was shown a red card for an ugly challenge on Thiago Almada.<\/p>\n
But, much to Atletico’s anger, it was downgraded to a yellow after the referee was instructed to watch it again on the pitchside monitor.<\/p>\n
The visitors piled forward in search of a winner, Musso producing a fine save to deny former Manchester City forward Ferran Torres before Lewandowski, 37, scored the late winner.<\/p>\n
It came after Musso was unable to hold Joao Cancelo’s attempt, the ball hitting Lewandowski on the shoulder and flying into the net.<\/p>\n
“It’s not easy to play here because the atmosphere and emotions are very high here,” Barca boss Hansi Flick said after the game. “I am really happy with these three points.<\/p>\n
“We need this hunger. We have to win the games. We have eight games to play. We have to stay focused and always be ready.<\/p>\n
“We know that Champions League is totally different and every players has more to give. Everyone wants to be in the semi-final. We have three days more to prepare, to rest a little bit and focus on the next game. These are the kind of games why I do this job.”<\/p>\n