Messi and Suarez give Barça the advantage in Copa del Rey semi-final with Atletico

Barcelona edged a game of two halves to move one step closer to the Copa del Rey final with a 2-1 win away at Atletico Madrid. 

This was far from easy for Luis Enrique's side, though. And it was no where near as easy as it looked like it would be at half time. 

A stunning solo goal from Luis Suarez and a thumping finish from Lionel Messi had helped Barça into a 2-0 lead at the break at the Vicente Calderon. 

But Atletico came out for the second period looking like a different side completely. Antoine Griezmann's header deservedly got them back into the game, but they could not find an equaliser. 

Barça, still without injured duo Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, executed the perfect game plan in the first half. 

Javier Mascherano's interception sent Suarez into the Atletico half, knocking the ball around Stefan Savic and greeting it on the other side, before slotting pasy Miguel Angel Moya. 

There were less than 10 minutes on the clock and it set the game up perfectly for the Blaugrana -- Atletic would have to attack, leaving space in behind. 

Taking advantage of that space, a long Jasper Cillessen kick eventually found Messi and he slammed home off the post from the edge of the area. 

What looked plain sailing soon became more difficult, though. 

The introduction of Fernando Torres changed the game, allowing Griezmann more space. 

It was a set piece which brought the equaliser. Koke fouled Suarez on the edge of the box, but it wasn't spotted, allowing Diego Godin to head across the area and Griezmann to turn the ball home. 

A combination of Moya and the woodowork then kept a Messi free-kick out, while Neymar -- who was booked and will be suspended for the second leg -- missed a great chance inside the area. 

Most of the chances were at the other end, though. Cillessen was let off the hook when Kevin Gamerio sent an acrobatic effort wide following an error from the Dutch goalkeeper. 

Mascherano, too, was let off the hook when Torres fired wide after he'd lost the ball on the edge of the box. 

And so it was Barça who were more relieved when the final whistle went. They won't have Neymar for the second leg at Camp Nou next week, but they will have a one goal advantage and two away goals to protect.