Lionel Messi’s stunning free kick nine minutes from time earned Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Vicente Calderon on Sunday evening.

Guardiola’s men took all three points from their travels to one of Spain’s most hostile stadiums, closing the gap at the top of La Liga to ten points after a signature victory over their Madrid rivals.

It was the type of nervy, gritty match that Barcelona had struggled to overcome all season away from home.  The hosts were patient, well drilled in defense and inspired by the sell-out crowd in attendance.  But in the end, a moment of sheer delight from the reigning Balon D’or winner proved the difference, as Barcelona claimed a crucial victory under trying circumstances.

With Madrid’s controversial 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day, the Catalans could ill afford dropping points on their trip to the Spanish capital.  It was a tall order, as Atletico had been unbeaten in their previous nine games since manager Diego Simeone took control, but Barca were up to the task and started brightly in the opening stages.

Xavi nearly opened the count inside of two minutes, as his shot from outside the area took a deflection and rolled inches wide of the post past the flat-footed Courtois.

Barca continued pressing forward and appeared to have taken an early lead when Messi skipped past two Atletico defenders before flicking the ball over Courtois from close range, but the effort was ruled out by referee Perez Lasa, who adjudged that the Argentine had used his hand during the buildup to control the ball.  As such, the goal was annulled and Messi was issued a yellow card, his fifth of the campaign, signifying a one-match suspension for next weekend’s clash against Sporting Gijon in the Camp Nou.

Xavi would test Courtois in the 19^th minute, sending a curling free kick around the wall, only for the Belgian keeper to make a fine diving save and push the ball wide of the net.

Barca’s dominance in possession provoked a series of reckless challenges from the Atletico defense, as Godin, Juanfran and Arda Turan were penalized with yellow cards in a five-minute stretch.

With the game being played exclusively in Atletico’s half, it was only a matter of time before Barcelona found the break through.

The opener finally arrived in the 36^th minute, as Messi shrugged off a string of nipping challenges and sent the ball out wide to Fabregas on the left.  The ex-Arsenal captain spotted the streaking run of Dani Alves and unselfishly sent a pass across the face of goal to the Brazilian, who tucked away the chance at the far post to give Barcelona the 1-0 advantage.

Atletico nearly pulled one back just seconds later when a give-away by Alexis was transformed into a quick counter, as Adrian broke into the box and slid a cross towards Falcao.  But Victor Valdes read the play well and smothered the ball before it could reach Atletico’s prolific striker.

Barca rode into the break in control of the match.  However, the second half was another story, as Atletico emerged reinvigorated after the interval and leveled, just three minutes in, through Colombian striker Radamel Falcao.

A corner from the right was inadvertently headed by Busquets to the far post where Falcao took full advantage of the chance by slipping his marker and volleying home from close range to even the match at one.

The goal clearly unsettled Barcelona, as Atletico began dictating the pace of the game, implementing a high-energy press and winning the ball further up the pitch for counter attacks.

Falcao looked to have been played in on goal for a one-on-one with Victor Valdes in the 57^th minute, only for the linesman to incorrectly rule the Colombian offsides, despite clearly beating Abidal’s late step up.

Sensing the momentum swing, Guardiola ordered a tactical change and instituted a 3-4-3 shape to maximize midfield control.

Dani Alves, pushed higher up the field as a right-winger, began finding more space to operate on the flank and nearly served up a deadlock breaking assist when his cross skipped past the outstretched boot of Messi to Alexis Sanchez, who headed it wide at the far post.

The action quickly turned to the other end, as Falcao outmuscled Mascherano and Abidal in the air and broke clean on goal, only for Victor Valdes to deny the hosts with a leaping save to parry away the striker’s chip and keep the game level at one.

Barca would see another goal ruled out in the 76^th minute, as Xavi’s corner took a deflection off Alexis Sanchez’s knee and struck the Chilean’s hand before Puyol collected the ricochet and fired on goal.  Alexis would eventually poke home the spilled shot by Courtois, but without reward, as his strike was annulled and Perez Lasa cautioned the forward with a harsh yellow card.

Just when it appeared that a draw was in the cards, Messi stepped up and delivered a moment of pure magic.  Atletico committed a foul on Pedro outside the area and were slow in setting the wall.  As Courtois continued aligning his defenders at the near post, the referee gave the signal and Lionel Messi wasted no time, curling a mesmerizing strike into the upper right corner from 25 yards out with Courtois rooted at the near post in horror.

The Atletico players complained vehemently, but to no avail, as the goal was legally taken and thus allowed to stand.  The only qualm the players should have is with their own mental lapse in defending against the free kick.  If you don’t want to be caught out in a quick kick scenario, then simply put a man over the ball and force the attacking player to ask the referee for 10 yards of space.  This allows additional time for the wall to be set and ensures that the restart will not be granted until the defense is ready.  It is football 101.  Atletico failed in defending one of the principal elements of the game and subsequently found themselves trailing with little time remaining to rectify the mistake.

Pique made a rare substitute appearance for Alexis, as the backline shifted to a four-man defense for the closing minutes.

Atletico played valiantly in the final moments and nearly rescued a point with a gilded-edge chance in the 88^th minute.  The home side’s free kick was not properly cleared by Busquets, allowing Juanfran a point-blank strike on goal, but Valdes came out strong, spreading his body wide to make a fine kick save and maintain Barcelona’s lead.

Busquets would draw a yellow card for an unnecessary foul in the final minute of regulation, ruling him inactive for next weekend’s fixture, as he serves his mandatory one-match suspension.

The last chance would fall to los colchoneros three minutes into stoppage time, as the hosts nearly stole a miracle in the dying seconds through Gabi.  Abidal did well to break up the initial cross with a clearing header, only for Gabi to catch the rebound with a flush volley from outside the box.  But Valdes once again came up big with a decisive reaction save to secure Barcelona’s 2-1 road victory.

Messi’s game-winner marks his 28^th goal of the La Liga season and stands as arguably his most important of the campaign, as the Catalans continue the fight to defend their La Liga crown.

Something about the Vicente Calderon inspires a flair for the dramatic when Barca come to town.  This match was no exception, with 13 yellow cards, malicious fans and polemica aplenty.  Analysts and conspiracy theorists alike should be chomping at the bits to discuss the results of this weekend’s matches in Madrid.

Chances are next Saturday’s home match against relegation bound Sporting Gijon should prove less dramatic for the blaugrana, as they return to the comfy confines of Catalunya.

But this one was more than a road win and greater than just three points.  It was a righting of the ship, a resilient display of the team’s fighting spirit and a sign of good things to come.

Sunday was a victory of blood, sweat and tears in the Vicente Calderon.  Against Atletico Madrid is there any other way?

Article written by Barcaloco contributor Anson Woodring.  Follow Anson on Twitter at @ansonwoodring.

Full match highlights:

Atletico Madrid – Barcelona 1-2 Highlights HD 26… by iNfRaS0NiC