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Despite having Nicolas Gonzalez sent off for a last-man foul on Lamine Yamal late in the first half, Atleti almost held out for a hard-earned point at Estadio Metropolitano.

Giuliano Simeone had put Los Colchoneros ahead in the first half, only for Marcus Rashford to equalise for Barca within three minutes.

The decisive goal was scored in the 87th minute by Robert Lewandowski, as Juan Musso pushed Joao Cancelo's shot against the striker's shoulder and in.

But even though Gonzalez's sending off was not in question, another decision enraged Simeone as Barca full-back Martin had a red card rescinded after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, despite replays showing he clearly followed through on a clearance and caught Thiago Almada's ankle with his upturned studs.

"Let's not talk about the action, what we say is not worth it. Let's not waste time," Simeone said after the match.

"Everyone is going to say what they think, but when the play is so clear, there is no need to talk."

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick perhaps not surprisingly agreed with the decision to let Martin on with just the yellow card.

"I didn't see Gerard's incident back on television. What I saw live is that he took the ball first, and for me, it's not a red card," the German said.

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo echoed those sentiments, saying of the two red cards: "I saw Nico's foul clearly, he was the last man.

"I didn't see Gerard's live. I've been told that there was contact, but he reached the ball much earlier and the follow-through made him hit him.

"There was contact but I think it would be excessive to get a red card. Almada was walking after 10 seconds, I don't think it was that bad."

Simeone was more accepting of Gonzalez's dismissal, but disagreed with it being upgraded from a second booking to a straight red card, saying: "As soon as he swept in, it was clear that it was at least a yellow card and a red card.

"The play was clear, I don't think it was a straight red, but he was clearly going to be sent off. He was playing a good game, except for that play."

Later, Simeone was asked in his post-match press conference if referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer had "harmed" his side.

"No, they have not harmed me," he said. "The officials made mistakes, just like coaches and players do.

"In Real Betis versus Rayo Vallecano, the same play was a red card, where the player goes over the foot and steps on them. Did they see it or not? They clearly saw it."

Atleti has a swift chance for revenge as it travels to Camp Nou for the first leg of the teams' UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie on Thursday (AEST).

Once that tie is concluded, the sides will have faced off six times this season, after Atleti emerged as 4-3 aggregate victors over Barca in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.

But Simeone held up the second leg of that tie, which started with Atleti leading 4-0, as a cautionary tale for his players.

"We have to be strong and play better than in the second leg of the Copa, where they didn't let us think, attack or generate chances," Simeone warned.

"We need to give more of ourselves because we are going to find ourselves in a Champions League quarter-final tie."