| Barcelona defender Gerard Pique had to help Diego Costa leave the field after his red card |
Barcelona moved 11 points clear at the top of La Liga after two late goals ended the stubborn resistance of Atletico Madrid, who had Diego Costa sent off in the first half.
Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi scored superb goals to leave Barca huge favourites to win a fifth title in seven years.
Former Chelsea striker Costa was shown a straight red card for abusing referee Jesus Gil Manzano in the 27th minute.
And Suarez and Messi made Atletico pay.
For most of the game, it looked like Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak would be the hero to counteract Costa’s villainy, making a string of superb saves to keep Barca out.
But with five minutes remaining, former Liverpool striker Suarez bent in a low shot from 25 yards that beat the Slovenian keeper and flicked in off the base of the post.
Just 60 seconds later, Messi was played though down the right, cut inside two defenders and beat Oblak with a low shot for his 33rd league goal of the season.