Barca made only one change, with Oscar Mingueza starting ahead of Ronald Araujo at the back while Atletico welcomed back Koke and Felipe in the line-up.
The visitors were creating good chances in the opening exchanges, but they could not capitalise, with the Catalan giants subdued.
Bluagrana were forced into a change in the 32nd minute after Sergio Busquets went down injured and he was replaced by IIaix Moriba and Atletico nearly broke the deadlock a minute later through Marcos Llorente's shot inside the box that was parried away by goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The hosts came to life towards the end of the first stanza, as Lionel Messi got past three challenges on the right flank and unleashed a powerful strike that was pushed away by shot-stopper Jan Oblak.
Gerard Pique had a chance to break the deadlock for Barca in the 63rd minute with a glancing header after a cross by Messi but his effort was smothered by Oblak.
Diego Simeone made a tactical change in the 67th minute after introducing Joao Felix in place of Saul while the hosts also made a double substitution, with Sergi Roberto and Ousmane Dembele replacing Pedri and Sergino Dest.
Dembele had a wonderful chance to snatch the winner for Blaugrana in the last six minutes after a getting on the end of Jordi Alba's cross but his header sailed slightly over the bar
Messi had a chance to get the winner for the Catalan side in the last minute from a free-kick just outside the box but his curled effort sailed just wide of the top corner, as the sides shared the spoils, with Atletico still two points clear of second-placed Barca at the top of the log.