Atletico punish 10-man Barcelona, take control of Champions League tie
Julian Alvarez's free-kick gave Atletico Madrid the lead in their Champions League quarter-final first leg win at Barcelona (Josep LAGO) Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth's goals earned Atletico Madrid a commanding 2-0 lead over 10-man Barcelona in a tense Champions League quarter-final first leg clash on Wednesday. The La Liga leaders were on top in the all-Spanish tie at Camp Nou before Pau Cubarsi was sent off for bringing down Atletico's Giuliano Simeone, who was through on goal. Alvarez whipped home the resulting free-kick and Sorloth doubled their advantage with 20 minutes remaining to give Atletico a strong chance of reaching the semi-finals.
Diego Simeone's side, who have never won the competition, reached the 2014 and 2016 finals but were beaten by rivals Real Madrid on both occasions. "We have things to improve and learn from... we're happy for the win but there's a long way to go," Atletico's Antoine Griezmann told Movistar.
"We're very far from the semis, we're 90 or more minutes away... we're confident but keeping our feet on the ground. " Barca, semi-finalists last season, need to make a huge comeback next Tuesday in Madrid if they are to stand a chance of lifting the trophy they last won in 2015.
"It will be tough there but if anyone can do it, it's us," Barca defender Ronald Araujo told Movistar. Barca coach Hansi Flick was upset by the use of VAR to punish his side for Cubarsi's red card but not to analyse a potential handball incident against Atletico's Marc Pubill in the second half. The defender touched the ball with his hand after goalkeeper Juan Musso passed it to him, to take the goal kick himself, which Flick said should have been reviewed.
"The VAR was very focussed today for Atletico, he's a German guy, so thanks Germany," complained the former German national team boss. "It's for me a clear red card, then it (can) change (things) totally. " Diego Simeone said the decision that was made was "common sense".
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