MADRID, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Yannick Carrasco's goal on the verge of halftime gave Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win at home to FC Barcelona to give Diego Simeone's side a nine-point advantage over Barca after just eight matches.
It is the first time Simeone has won a league match against Barca since joining Atletico in late 2011.
Barca never really threatened in another disappointing performance and also lost Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto to injury to further increase Koeman's problems.
The game got off to a breathtaking start with Antoine Griezmann putting Ousmane Dembele's cross just over the Atletico crossbar, before Marc Andre Ter Stegen produced an excellent save to turn Saul Niguez's long range shot wide and Marcos Llorente saw his effort go over after hitting the Barca crossbar.
Dembele and Sergi Roberto were causing problems for Atletico down the Barcelona right flank, but Frenkie de Jong and Miralem Pjanic's inability to control the midfield meant that Barca never looked entirely in control against a rival missing Luis Suarez, Hector Herrera and Lucas Torreira through the coronavirus.
Carrasco opened the scoring with seconds left in the first half as Barca were caught with their defense pushed forward. Ter Stegen raced out of his area and the winger slipped the ball past him to calmly finish into the empty net.
Philippe Coutinho replaced 17-year-old Pedri for the start of the second half and Clement Lenglet should have equalized soon afterwards but his header was straight at Jan Oblak.
Pique then had to leave the pitch with what looked like a serious knee injury after Angel Correa accidentally fell into him causing what looks like it could at best be sprained ligaments.
Sergino Dest replaced Pique with De Jong dropping into central defense and Sergi Roberto stepping into midfield, where Koke was running the show for the home side leaving Barcelona struggling to regain possession.
Messi saw a free kick deflected wide and then crossed for Griezmann, whose header was comfortably saved by Jan Oblak, before Sergi Roberto's shot was deflected wide. Roberto suffered a thigh injury to round off a miserable night for Ronald Koeman's team. Enditem