Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona score, result, stats from La Liga match as Joao Felix haunts old club and Lewandowski shines

Xavi has not always enjoyed this season, his last in charge of Barcelona. But, amid the press confrontations and questions about style, even he would have to admit that this has been one of the best weeks in his time as head coach.

On Tuesday, Barca defeated Napoli 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg to reach the quarterfinal stage for the first time since 2019/20. Five days later, they went to Atletico Madrid — who knocked out Inter Milan in Europe this week — and inflicted upon Diego Simeone's side their heaviest home league defeat since November 2016.

Joao Felix scored against his old club, just as he did in the reverse fixture last December, before Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez also got on the scoresheet in Barca's 3-0 victory. It was a shock, both for Atletico's players, who dominated the early exchanges, and the home fans at the Civitas Metropolitano, who were cowed into silence just four days on from the electric atmosphere of their penalty shootout win over Inter.

Atleti were on a run of 25 home La Liga games without defeat, winning 23 of those. It was a sequence stretching back to January 2023, when they last lost a home league match — against Barcelona.

Simeone hates this team.

MORE: Atletico Madrid and Barcelona's UEFA Champions League route to final

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona score

Starting lineups:

Atletico Madrid (5-3-2, right to left): Oblak (GK) — Molina, Witsel, Mandava, Savic, Lino — De Paul, Barrios, Llorente — Morata, Riquelme

Barcelona (4-3-3, right to left):  Ter Stegen (GK) — Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Fort — Lopez, Roberto, Gundogan — Raphinha, Lewandowski, Felix.

The hosts were excellent early on, throwing Barca off their rhythm and pinning them in their own half. Pablo Barrios curled inches wide after Rodrigo De Paul won possession on the edge of the Barca box, Marc-Andre ter Stegen motionless in goal.

The Catalans weathered the storm, though, slowly assuming control against a team likely still fatigued from their Champions League exertions. Lewandowski set up Raphinha for a good chance that the Brazilian couldn't quite take.

Joao Felix could. Just as he did in the reverse fixture, the Portugal forward struck against his old side, side-footing home with composure from Lewandowski's cut-back from the left. He opted not to celebrate in front of fans who had jeered him from the first whistle.

25 - #Barcelona 🔵🔴 have ended #AtléticoDeMadrid 🔴⚪️'s 25-match unbeaten run (W23 D2) at home in @LaLigaeN. A streak that began, precisely, after another Azulgrana victory in January 2023 (0-1). Complicated. pic.twitter.com/mrNKCvayCw

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 17, 2024

Simeone made two halftime changes, bringing on Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay against their former clubs, but any plans went out of the window two minutes after the restart. De Paul gave away possession cheaply, Raphinha chipped the ball to Lewandowski, and the striker took a clever touch into space before pulling a shot back across goal and into the bottom-left corner.

It was exceptional control and composure from Lewandowski, but nothing on what followed. Barca cleared to halfway and the Poland star gathered the ball and turned under pressure before laying it back to Ilkay Gundogan in one slick moment of elegance. Gundogan launched the ball forward to Jules Kounde, who turned on the edge of the Atleti box to see Lewandowski having sprinted up the field in support. The striker crossed with unerring accuracy, and Lopez headed past Jan Oblak.

It was sensational counter-attacking play, and it sapped the life from the home fans. Vitor Roque came close to a fourth, but Nahuel Molina hauled him down and received a straight red card in stoppage time. By then, the contest was a formality, Barca easing to three points to move second in the table and keep their slim title hopes alive.

For Atleti, the title race is surely over. Their impressive unbeaten home run, bookended by losses to Barca, is over. Their proud record of having never lost by three or more goals in La Liga at the Civitas Metropolitano is over, too. And they could face Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals.

Simeone really hates this team.

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona stats

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona lineups, team news

Defender Jose Maria Gimenez was not risked by Diego Simeone, who started with Reinildo Mandava at the heart of defence.

Antoine Griezmann came through the Inter Milan victory with no recurrence of his ankle injury, but the France star was on the bench against his old team, only coming on for the second half.

Atletico Madrid XI (5-3-2 right to left): Oblak (GK) — Molina, Witsel, Mandava, Savic, Lino — De Paul, Barrios, Llorente — Morata, Riquelme

Atletico Madrid subs: Moldovan, Azpilicueta, Gabriel, Koke, Griezmann, Saul, Depay, Correa, Vermeeren, Aleman

Barcelona's injury picture remained unchanged following the win over Napoli with Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Ferran Torres all still sidelined for the visitors.

Joao Felix can play against his parent club, as part of his loan to Barcelona, with the Portugal international scoring the winner in the reverse fixture in December. He started today — and scored.

Barcelona XI (4-3-3, right to left): Ter Stegen (GK) — Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Fort — Lopez, Roberto, Gundogan — Raphinha, Lewandowski, Felix.

Barcelona subs: Martinez, Pena, Christensen, Alonso, Romeu, Vitor Roque, Lamine Yamal, Casado, Kochen, Guiu

Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this La Liga match across selected areas of the world's major regions: