Barcelona 2-0 Atlético Madrid: Simeone’s men stun hosts in Champions League quarter final fist leg | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid won at the Camp Nou for the first time since 2006 as they secured a hard-fought 2-0 win over ten-man Barcelona in their Champions League quarter final first leg.

Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth scored a goal each, as Diego Simeone’s men took control of the tie following Pau Cubarsi’s reckless red card.

Hansi Flick’s side dominated the second half and had countless opportunities to halve the deficit, but in the end slumped to a deserved defeat after winning eight of their past nine games.

Both teams had chances in a frenetic start, Marcus Rashford’s second-minute effort being easily saved by Juan Musso before Alvarez’s strike was dealt with by Joan Garcia soon after.

That pattern continued throughout the opening 15 minutes, with Joao Cancelo and Rashford spurning further chances for the Blaugrana either side of Giuliano Simeone’s poor effort for Atletico.

Rashford was further denied, this time by the offside flag, on the 18 minute mark following sublime interplay from the Barca forwards.

And the Englishman was foiled AGAIN by Musso just prior to the half hour after a delightful ball in from the left, before Gerard Martin went close with an attempt from range soon after.

But just when Barcelona looked to be exerting a stranglehold on the game, Cubarsi had his yellow card for a professional foul changed to a red on 44 minutes following a VAR review.

And Alvarez struck a sublime free kick seconds later to net his ninth goal in 12 Champions League outings and stun the Camp Nou faithful.

Rashford had yet another glorious chance to drag Barcelona level within ten minutes of the restart, but his searing free kick was expertly saved by Musso.

Despite Barcelona threatening to get back into the game it was Atletico who scored next, substitute Sorloth doubling Los Rojiblancos lead with a composed close-range finish after a wonderful whipped cross from the left.

The home side had opportunities to reduce the arrears late on, but ultimately could not break down a dogged defensive display from Los Colchoneros as they kept just their second clean sheet in eight matches.

Having been tipped as potential winners of this year’s competition, the Catalonia outfit will surely see tonight’s result as a chance missed.

Atleti, meanwhile, will feel confident they can finally win the trophy for the first time having fallen agonisingly short against city rivals Real in 2014 and 2016.