Barcelona's extraordinary revival since Xavi announced he was leaving at the end of the season continued apace with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid.

Diego Simeone's side had only dropped two points a home all season and were on a high from the epic victory over Inter Milan on Wednesday night but they were a tired and confused mess in the second half as they tried and failed to respond to Joao Felix’ opening goal.

Barcelona took the lead on 38 minutes and it had to be him who scored it. The Portuguese forward is contracted to Atletico until 2029 but he will never be welcomed back. His every touch was whistled both before and after he calmly converted from Robert Lewandowski’s clever cross after a bursting run from Ilkay Gundogan.

Joao Felix didn’t celebrate, he was too close to the most vociferous of Atletico’s supporters for that, but the damage was done. Atletico had missed several half chances in the first period. Pablo Barrios shot over the top and Alvaro Morata steered one effort just wide.

Simeone had left some of the heroes from Wednesday night on the bench but Memphis Depay and Antoine Griezmann came on after the break with Koke not too far behind them. It changed nothing. Barcelona scored their second on minute 47. Raphinha played Lewandowski through and he turned brilliantly to score off the far post for his 13th goal of the season.

He is back to the sort of form he was showing at the start of last season and that bodes well for the rest of the campaign for Barcelona. He had not finished contributing either – he crossed from the right and Fermin Lopez headed in the third goal.

Simeone had already made four of his five changes. He played his last card when he brought Saul on and the out of sorts midfielder had the chance to close the margin but shot wide.

The Atletico coach had changed his system at various times during the game but the move from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2 and then back again seemed to confuse his own players far more than the opposition. 

That late Saul chance apart, Atletico had not caused too many problems for Barcelona. Marc Andre ter Stegen got down very well to push away a Marcos Llorente shot but there was little for the German keeper to do.

For Xavi it was yet another win against Simeone. Since taking over as Barcelona coach he has beaten him on five occasions. The last three had been 1-0 defeats this loss will hurt even more coming at home and having been so emphatic.

The only crimp in Xavi's evening was his first half direct red card. He had already been booked for dissent and he was off when he said one thing too many to the fourth official. He will be suspended again - no coach has been cautioned as often since he took charge of Barcelona.

Despite the miserable scoreline the Atletico supporters bounced up and down behind Jan Oblak’s goal until the last whistle – that is what an epic Champions League last-16 win over Inter can do for you. 

The thrill of that win took the sting out the defeat for the supporters and there is no question that Simeone would give almost anything to finally win his first Champions League. 

The question is will they have to sacrifice a top four finish? This result takes them into the break for international football sitting fifth and outside of the Champions League places. They might have to win it to be in it next season.