Atlético has taken the measure of Barça (0-2)

Diego Pablo Simeone’s men took an important step to advance in the Champions League, with the return next Tuesday at the Metropolitano, thanks to the goals of Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sorloth. The 0-1 came from a foul just before half-time that resulted in a direct red card for Pau Cubarsí and, with ten, Barça showed pride but did not beat a serious Atlético that, like in the Copa del Reywants to be the executioner of the Catalans again.

Despite being in Barcelona, ​​the tie began alongside the interests of the people of Madrid. Atleti guarded well and accepted the slow pace of the ball that Barça managed for many minutes. Hansi Flick’s men burned at the start in a shallow possession, without Pedri’s inspiration in a line-breaking pass, and entrusted to Marcus Rashford, the most dangerous.

Around the half-hour mark, Lamine Yamal woke up dribbling past three in red and white on a tile, and followed by a deflected shot from Gerard Martín, but it was not enough to encourage the Blaugranas or the Camp Nou. As if that were not enough, Juan Musso, who perfectly makes Jan Oblak forget, was a magnet for shots.

It was above all Rashford, even scoring but ruled out for offside, who ran into the Argentine goalkeeper, but the Englishman’s lost confidence was evident, now that he regains his position due to Raphinha’s injury. Simeone’s men followed their plan, despite losing a sore David Hancko, looking for a safe exit.

Ademola Lookman, Antoine Griezmann and Julián Álvarez, who was the first to test Joan Garcia, made a Barça team run backwards, which paid for their lack of forcefulness in the retreat near the break. After two visitor passes, Pau Cubarsí tripped over the Argentine heading towards the goal, referee Istvan Kovacs He sent him off after reviewing it in the VAR and the ‘Araña’ herself He converted the free kick from the front across the entire squad (0-1).

Barça tries with 10 but Atleti hits

With the controversy of the League match still raging, or a second yellow card that the locals claimed for Koke, Atleti went to half-time with the feeling of divine justice and Barça, frustrated and with the tie in danger. Flick’s men forgot the missing man and went with everything, or almost everything, because the German coach left Pedri on the bench, looking for the tie. Gavi gave strength and Fermín depth to a Barça that tested Musso again.

Rashford was left without an angle and in a corner neither Jules Koundé nor Dani Olmo finished off a ball that went one meter from the goal. After 20 minutes of bailing, Atleti found some calm with the ball and Barça had to catch their breath. There, the red and white punch was lethal, with a cross from Matteo Ruggeri and a shot from Sorloth, who had just entered, to make it 0-2 in the 70th minute.

The ‘Cholo’ script was confirmed victorious, for the first time in his career at the Camp Nou, and Barça looked desperate, demanding more than one penalty, with Lamine pulling the car, Ronald Araújo as forward and Olmo’s last sprint. As in the Cup, Atlético ate the Catalans’ toastnow with the need to come back but at home, so as not to say goodbye to a Champions League that is just as obsessed in some as in others.

Technical sheet

FC BARCELONA: Joan Garcia; Koundé (Araújo, min.73), Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Cancelo (Balde, min.86); Eric Garcia, Pedri; Rashford (Torres, min.73), Lamine Yamal, Olmo; and Lewandowski.

ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Musso; Molina, Le Normand, Hancko (Pubill, min.32), Ruggeri; G. Simeone (Nico, min.80), Llorente, Koke (Baena, min.60), Lookman (Sorloth, min.60); Griezmann (Almada, min.80) and Julián Álvarez.

GOALS: 0 – 1, min.45, Julián Álvarez. 0 – 2, min.70, Sorloth.

REFEREE: István Kovács (ROU). Gavi was cautioned (min.65) by Barça. And Koke (min.31), Pubill (min.45+1) and Baena (min.63) at Atlético. Cubarsí was sent off (min.44) for a direct red card.

STADIUM: Spotify Camp Nou.