Barcelona's defence keeps getting Robert Lewandowski out of jail! Winners and losers as Xavi's watertight backline help ensure win over Atletico Madrid

Xavi's faith in the Spain striker is puzzling. Torres has never really hit his stride in a Barcelona shirt, and it was odd to see him included in the line up here.

However, what seemed to be a risk turned out a masterstroke from the manager.

Torres' opener was a classic piece of striker's play, with the former Manchester City man perfectly delaying his run before receiving Raphinha's pass and finding the bottom corner with ease.

His goal will take the headlines, but he was solid throughout here. Barca needed some intensity against a typically chippy Atleti side, and Torres provided it. Pedri's return to full fitness will surely see the winger removed from the line up, but he took his chance when offered.

As one attacking player thrived, another stuttered.

Lewandowski hasn't been at his best for some time now, and it was another forgettable showing here. The 34-year-old looks like a player trying to do too much. He rushed shots, mistimed his passes, and was caught offside once or twice.

There was one particularly egregious moment when the Poland captain ran through on goal with Jan Oblak caught in no man's land. He could have either squared to an open Raphinha or whipped the ball into the far corner. And he did either, slicing his effort a few yards wide — much to the chagrin of his team-mate.

Lewandowski will surely come good again; the best goalscorers always find their rhythm. But it's just not working for him right now. Barcelona are fortunate that his cold spell has come with the title more or less wrapped up.

After three games without a win, Xavi needed to turn things around today. And he did just that.

Some of his selection choices were bold. Selecting Torres over Ansu Fati and putting Marcos Alonso at centre-back raised a few eyebrows before kick off, but he got his personnel exactly right, and his side never really looked troubled.

Xavi will likely be disappointed that his side didn't win by more here. They missed a handful of good chances to extend their 1-0 lead, and on another day could have won 4-0. But his team was reliable enough at the other end to ensure that they weren't made to rue the litany of unsuccessful attempts.

Eighteen months after accepting the job, the club legend will likely be lifting the league trophy in a few weeks. That's not a bad turnaround for a team that was going nowhere when he took over.

Here was a chance for some El Cholo magic.

Heading into this clash, Atleti had won each of their last six games while playing some surprisingly expansive football in recent weeks. It all looked like a recipe to snag an unlikely Camp Nou win.

But Simeone's side were thoroughly beaten here — despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise.

Antoine Griezmann rattled the bar early, and forced some neat saves out of Ter Stegen, but they were otherwise toothless in attack.

At the other end, they were uncharacteristically disorganised, and conceded a preventable goal to an out-of-form player.

By the end of it all, Simeone's side were back to the fouling and diving team that had seen some call for the manager to step down in 2022.

He is yet to win at Camp Nou, with this his 16th visit as Atletico boss. Perhaps the legendary coach's voodoo is running out.

Xavi's Barca isn't necessarily a classic iteration of the Blaugrana. Indeed, there is nothing remotely Cruyffian about this side.

Instead, they have leaned on an excellent defensive unit all season long, and it showed up again on Sunday.

Barcelona were poor at one end, but kept things tight in the defensive third, ensuring their 23rd clean sheet of the season.

The Blaugrana have only conceded nine times in La Liga this year, including just two at Camp Nou. Whether they can rely on the same unit long-term remains to be seen. But for now, their imperious back four has carried them to the title.

Madrid must find it hard to see Barcelona grind out so many narrow wins — especially after Los Blancos so easily battered them at Camp Nou just a few weeks ago.

Although Barca are enjoying an excellent season, there's a prevailing feeling that Real should have put the pressure on more, and could be well in the mix for the title right now if they had.

Instead, they were left hoping for their local rivals to beat their sworn enemies in order to make things interesting atop the table — a testament to how far Los Blancos have fallen in the league this year.

The title was likely gone before this fixture kicked off, but Barcelona's win saw it slip away for good.