Barcelona 3-1 Atletico Madrid: 5 Talking Points

Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were all on the score sheet as Barcelona calmed any talks of a crisis and moved to within a point of Real Madrid at the top of the League. The hosts dominated the ball and all three scorers were involved in the opening goal which Neymar tucked away in the 12th minute.The Catalans’ second goal was a lot more controversial as Messi handled the ball in the build-up, but the referee didn’t stop the play as the trio once again combined, this time Suarez scoring the goal. Although Atletico got back into the game after scoring from a Mario Mandzukic penalty in the second half, Messi scored with three minutes to go, to seal all three points.Here are the major talking points:

#1 Barcelona let their football do all the talking

This was perhaps the most important game of the season for Barcelona. In the week leading up to the game, the club's director Andoni Zubizaretta was sacked, former club captain Carles Puyol announced his departure from the club and not only were there rumours about a rift between Luis Enrique and Messi, there were even suggestions that the Argentine might leave the club.

So nothing less than a win, and a convincing one at that, would have been enough to avert any talks of a crisis at the club. And that is precisely what they got, as the Catalans defended resolutely, especially from set pieces, outplayed Atletico in midfield and blew the visitors out of the park up front.