Julian Alvarez’s brilliance inspired Atletico Madrid to a 2-0 first-leg win at 10-man Barcelona, putting Diego Simeone’s side in control of the Champions League quarter-final.
Two moments of the highest quality from Alvarez turned the game in Atletico’s favour before half-time and secured Simeone his first win at Spotify Camp Nou as Barcelona’s 14-game winning streak at the revamped stadium ended.
After Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi was sent off following a VAR review for a last-man challenge on Guiliano Simeone, Alvarez struck from a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner. Earlier, Alvarez had played a lobbed through ball that split the Barcelona defence, leaving Cubarsi to clip Simeone’s son and concede the penalty-area incident that led to the red card.
Barcelona remained dominant despite the red but conceded a second with 20 minutes left when Atletico substitute Alexander Sorloth turned in a cross, putting Atletico in a strong position to reach the semi-finals, where either Arsenal or Sporting await.
Barca were furious when Atletico substitute Marc Pubill, already on a booking, was not penalised for handling the ball in his own area after goalkeeper Juan Musso rolled it to him at a goal-kick. Hansi Flick called it “unbelievable” that VAR did not intervene.
Marcus Rashford, starting for the injured Raphinha, had several chances while Barca trailed, hitting the bar and failing to convert a fine through ball from Lamine Yamal. The on-loan Manchester United forward took seven shots — two more than Atletico’s entire team — but lacked a ruthless edge on a night when he threatened to shine.
Barcelona finished with a superior xG of 1.21 to Atletico’s 0.45 and will take hope into the second leg in Madrid next Tuesday, having shown they can create chances. They also came close to overturning a 4-0 first-leg Copa del Rey deficit to Atletico in February, ultimately losing 4-3 on aggregate.
Atletico produced a staunch defensive display to prevent Barcelona scoring at home for the first time in 40 matches, setting up the second leg perfectly for Simeone.
Hansi Flick to TNT Sports:
“You get nothing for being the better team. We were not lucky today. We had a good first half and then the red card and the goal. In the second half we played well with one player less. Atletico have high quality in the offence; their strikers are really good, but we have to stay positive. We have the quality to win there. It will be tough, but it is our great goal to reach the final. It feels a little bit far away, but we have the quality.”
“On the red card incident: For me it’s unbelievable. Why didn’t the VAR call to say, ‘look at this situation’? I cannot understand that. It was a clear start to the game and a handball. It is a yellow card and a penalty to us.”
Ademola Lookman to TNT Sports:
“Good result and performance from the team, especially not to concede here. That shows the work that everyone has been doing on togetherness. Scoring after they had a man sent off was key. Brilliant free-kick from Julian and the timing of Alexander Sorloth’s goal as well. Barcelona are a top team and they put you in difficult moments. When you get your moments, you have to take them and we did that. The second leg is going to be a massive challenge and a massive game.”
Opta stats and key facts:
– Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona at Camp Nou for the first time since February 2006, ending a 25-visit winless run (D8 L17).
– Barcelona have been eliminated from each of their three previous two-legged Champions League knockout ties when they lost the first leg at home.
– Atletico won away in a Champions League knockout match for the first time in seven attempts (D1 L5), their first since defeating Manchester United 1-0 in the 2021-22 round of 16.
– Hansi Flick experienced his first Champions League knockout game without his team scoring (18th match), and Barcelona failed to score at home in any competition for the first time in 40 matches since a December 2024 league loss to Leganes.
– Julian Alvarez scored his ninth Champions League goal of the season — the most by an Atletico player in a single campaign, surpassing Diego Costa’s eight in 2013-14.
What’s next:
– Second leg: Atletico Madrid v Barcelona in Madrid next Tuesday.
– Remaining possible semi-final opponents: Arsenal or Sporting.