Joao Felix scored the winner against parent club Atletico Madrid as Barcelona triumphed 1-0 in Sunday night's La Liga affair at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
The Portugal international, who moved to Barcelona on loan from Atletico in the final stages of the summer transfer window, netted the only goal of the match in the 28th minute.
The result has moved Xavi's side above the Red and Whites into third position in the table, four points behind leaders Real Madrid, while Atletico are now seven off the summit, albeit with a game in hand.
Raphinha had a brilliant chance to send Barcelona ahead inside the first two minutes at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys after a one-two with Pedri, but the Brazil international missed the post from a narrow angle.
Robert Lewandowski then had a strike blocked behind by Mario Hermoso, with the home side making comfortably the better start to the contest.
Barcelona had their third chance of the match in the sixth minute when Raphinha delivered an excellent cross into Lewandowski, but the Poland international missed the target with his header.
Lewandowski had another opportunity in the 12th minute, but the striker fired a brilliant Jules Kounde cross wide of the post, with Atletico surviving another dangerous moment in the early exchanges.
Barcelona managed to make the breakthrough in the 28th minute, and it was Felix who scored against his parent club, with the Portugal international expertly lifting the ball over the onrushing Jan Oblak after breaking into the penalty box, and there was nothing muted about the celebration.
Hermoso came close to levelling the scores in the 33rd minute when a smart team move ended with the defender firing towards goal, but the ball just drifted past the post, before Antoine Griezmann had a goal-bound strike blocked by Frenkie de Jong during a strong spell for the visitors.
Felix came close to scoring a second late in the first period, but his close-range effort was kept out by Oblak, with Atletico surviving what would have been a killer blow before the break.
Atletico head coach Diego Simeone made three changes at the break, with Angel Correa, Samuel Lino and Cesar Azpilicueta entering the field, but Barcelona were again dominant at the start of the second half.
Raphinha came close to doubling the home side's advantage in the 58th minute, but the Brazilian's effort crashed off the post, before Griezmann hit the side-netting down the other end of the field.
Felix came close to scoring a second in the 69th minute after being found by Lewandowski on the edge of the box, but his effort was just wide of Oblak's post.
Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena, who was again between the sticks due to Marc-Andre ter Stegen's absence, made a smart save to keep out a free kick from Memphis Depay late on before also denying Correa, and the Catalan outfit managed to produce a shut-out to pick up a huge three points on home soil.
Barcelona will continue their league campaign against second-placed Girona next Sunday, while Atletico will be bidding to bounce back when they face basement side Almeria on the same date. body check tags ::
