Atletico Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: Lionel Messi strikes late as Barca return to the top of LaLiga

A late strike from Lionel Messi ensured Barcelona returned to the top of LaLiga with a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The last two league fixtures between these two teams in Madrid had ended in 1-1 draws and Barca had extra motivation to end that run after seeing Real Madrid go top with a victory over Alaves on Saturday.

Antoine Griezmann returned to the Wanda Metropolitano for the first time since his controversial summer move to Barcelona and the Frenchman was greeted by loud whistles from the home crowd throughout the contest.

He was starting alongside Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, who had scored an incredible 24 goals in 23 LaLiga appearances against Atleti.

But it was the hosts who came closest to opening the scoring when Mario Hermoso's cross was diverted onto the post by Samuel Umtiti in the seventh minute.

Diego Simeone's men were enjoying the better share of possession and it was Hermoso again, at the far post, who had the chance to score. But the Spaniard saw his close-range effect saved superbly by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Barca were struggling to get a foot on the ball with Messi and Suarez isolated up front. But they nearly punished Atletico for some sloppy work at the back only for Ivan Rakitic to see his effort saved by Jan Oblak.

Atletico's aerial superiority was evident and so it proved when Alvaro Morata climbed above everyone to meet Koke's corner only to see his effort batted away brilliantly by ter Stegen.

It was Barca's turn to hit the upright next when Gerard Pique headed towards goal only to see his effort cannon back off the crossbar as an entertaining half came to a close.

Messi and Barcelona began to find their way into the match in the early moments of the second half, with the Argentinian twice denied - first by a save from Oblak and then a blocked from Felipe.