Atletico certainly caught Barcelona sleeping in the early stages, though the home side duly woke up and should have scored through Ferran Torres before Pedri did reduce the deficit by finishing off a sweeping move from close range.
Long periods of the second half felt like a more low-key affair in comparison to the first, yet chances were aplenty for the visitors as Alvarez and Griezmann both went close before substitute Alexander Sorloth had a goal, correctly, disallowed for offside.
Having gone close to breaking the deadlock inside the first few seconds, Julian Alvarez netted his fifth goal of the competition as he got to Clement Lenglet’s flick-on from a cross into the box to steer the ball past Wojciech Szczesny.
Taking advantage of Barcelona’s risky high defensive line, Alvarez curled the ball behind the defence for the Frenchman who shrugged off Alejandro Balde’s challenge to squeeze an effort past Szczesny.
When Robert Lewandowski made an immediate impact off the bench by converting from close range after magical wing play from Lamine Yamal, Barcelona seemed home and dry.
