The visitors started strongly and took the lead through Koke within the first 10 minutes but Lionel Messi equalised on the half-hour mark by finishing off a sumptuous team move.
Luis Suarez then picked up on a long pass from Dani Alves just eight minutes later, expertly holding up the ball before finishing cleverly through the legs of goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
From there, it got worse for Atleti as Filipe Luis was shown a straight red card for a dreadful tackle on Messi before half-time even arrived and, though Antoine Griezmann was inexplicably denied a goal by Claudio Bravo just after the break, Diego Godin picked up a second yellow midway through the half for an irresponsible challenge on Suarez.
With Atletico thoroughly defanged, Barca probed in search of further goals but were made to settle for what looks like a significant victory in the Spanish title race.
Amid early Atleti pressure, Saul brought an impressive save from the recalled Claudio Bravo inside two minutes before Koke
gave the visitors the lead with a calm strike from inside the area.
Griezmann failed to get a touch on Saul's cross but Koke was free in the
box to volley past Bravo and register his first goal since November.
Messi and Suarez had sights on goal as Barca grew into the game and the former levelled on the half-hour mark as he put the finishing touch on a lovely move down the left involving Jordi Alba and Neymar.
Messi's sixth goal in the last four La Liga games was soon followed by Suarez's 31st of the season in all competitions as the Uruguayan latched on to Alves's precise ball before getting goal-side of Jose Maria Gimenez and finishing coolly past Oblak.
Atletico's plan continued to unravel up to half-time as Filipe Luis was dismissed for a high tackle on Messi that prompted a furious response from Luis Enrique and the Barcelona bench.
Atleti coach Diego Simeone sacrificed Gabi for Jesus Gamez at the break but, with a numerical advantage, Barca took their time in possession, Godin's intervention required to deny Suarez a sight of goal following a precise Messi pass.
In-form Griezmann almost levelled before the hour - Bravo denying the Frenchman's prodded effort with his left foot - as Simeone's men remained determined to cause Barca problems.
But Atleti's traditionally physical approach proved their undoing as another rash challenge from Godin on compatriot Suarez earned him a second yellow card, Messi seeing the subsequent free-kick palmed away by Oblak.
Substitute Arda Turan almost scored against his former club on his birthday 13 minutes from time - sending a shot wide - as Barca's defence of the league, cup and European treble they won last season overcame another hurdle.
Messi and Suarez had sights on goal as Barca grew into the game and the former levelled on the half-hour mark as he put the finishing touch on a lovely move down the left involving Jordi Alba and Neymar.
Messi's sixth goal in the last four La Liga games was soon followed by Suarez's 31st of the season in all competitions as the Uruguayan latched on to Alves's precise ball before getting goal-side of Jose Maria Gimenez and finishing coolly past Oblak.
Atletico's plan continued to unravel up to half-time as Filipe Luis was dismissed for a high tackle on Messi that prompted a furious response from Luis Enrique and the Barcelona bench.
Atleti coach Diego Simeone sacrificed Gabi for Jesus Gamez at the break but, with a numerical advantage, Barca took their time in possession, Godin's intervention required to deny Suarez a sight of goal following a precise Messi pass.
In-form Griezmann almost levelled before the hour - Bravo denying the Frenchman's prodded effort with his left foot - as Simeone's men remained determined to cause Barca problems.
But Atleti's traditionally physical approach proved their undoing as another rash challenge from Godin on compatriot Suarez earned him a second yellow card, Messi seeing the subsequent free-kick palmed away by Oblak.
Substitute Arda Turan almost scored against his former club on his birthday 13 minutes from time - sending a shot wide - as Barca's defence of the league, cup and European treble they won last season overcame another hurdle.
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