Champions League: Suarez double sees Barcelona recover to beat 10-man Atletico

Barcelona's Luis Suarez netted twice for a 2-1 win over 10-man Atletico Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final, first leg on Tuesday after the visitors' Fernando Torres opened the scoring and was later sent off.

After a flurry of chances for the home side, Suarez levelled from close range in the 63rd minute and then headed the winner in the 74th, giving the European champions the edge before next week’s second leg at the Vicente Calderon.

Atletico got off to the ideal start when Torres fired Koke’s pass through the legs of keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen after 25 minutes but 10 minutes later he was dismissed for a second booking as they suffered a seventh straight loss to Barca.

Atletico had been in confident mood after thrashing Real Betis 5-1 in la Liga on Saturday and were looking to take advantage of Barcelona, who were reeling from a 2-1 home defeat by Real Madrid that ended their record 39-game unbeaten run.

Diego Simeone’s men defended as a team and their organised play and high pressing interrupted Barca’s usual quick passing game.

"We are still alive in the tie," Atletico coach Simeone said. "They had a chance to score another goal with an extra man and they didn’t, so that gives us hope and belief. The second leg is going to be a great game."

After Lionel Messi and Neymar missed the target in the early stages, Atletico pounced with their first proper chance.

After a long spell of possession, Koke received a pass from Gabi and took a touch before threading the ball into the path of Torres, who got his 11th goal in 15 matches against Barcelona.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker received his first booking for a late tackle on Neymar in the middle of the pitch four minutes after scoring and got his marching orders for a second yellow minutes later for fouling Sergio Busquets.

Simeone’s side had two sent off when they lost to the Catalans in La Liga and were again punished for indiscipline.

After the break Messi was inches away from his 500th career goal with a scissors kick before Neymar hit the far post and then sent a shot whistling just wide.

Barcelona broke Atletico’s resistance when Suarez diverted Jordi Alba’s low cross home with his shin and then powered into the area to head Dani Alves’ cross past Jan Oblak to score the winner with his eighth Champions League goal this season.

"The only downside is we didn't score another goal, which would have helped us a lot," Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.

"We feel positive because the result is in our favour, we have won again and beaten Atletico again, a team that makes things extremely difficult."

FULL-TIME

Barcelona 2 (Suarez 63" 74") Atletico 1 (Torres 25')

Two second half goals from Luis Suarez enabled Barcelona to take a 2-1 advantage over Atletico Madrid when they visit the Vicente Calderon Stadium next week for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Barca were stunned when Fernando Torres struck in the 25th minute. But 10 minutes later the Spanish striker received his second booking and was red-carded forcing Atletico to play for 55 minutes with 10 men.

The Catalan club, who were playing second fiddle until then, couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to make their extra man count and Suarez it was, who was a bit low key until his first goal in the 63rd minute, who brought the Camp Nou on its feet, with a somewhat streaky goal.

The Uruguayan applied the icing on the cake in the 74th minute with a powerful header to raise Barca's spirits.

90" Five minutes of injury time added.

86" YELLOW! Sunstitute Augusto is in the book.

84" Messi does his trademark run from 25 yards and after dribbling his way into the box is brought down but the referee is not interested.

82" Both teams have been making substitutions.

76" YELLOW! Lucas Hernandez is booked for a harsh tackle on Neymar.

Barcelona 2 (Suarez 63" 74") Atletico 1 (Torres 25')

67" YELLOW! Luis Suarez is now in the book for pushing over Filipe Luis.YELLOW! Luis Suarez is now in the book for pushing over Filipe Luis.

Barcelona 1 (Suarez 62") Atletico 1 (Torres 25')

56" Oblak is tested again this time by Messi and he rises to the challenge.

54" Atletico have no alternative but to drop anchor and Barca are trying to make the extra man count as Neymar again heads goalwards but Oblak is at hand. 

50" Neymar curls his floater and is disappointed to see it hit the post.

49" It's all happenning at the Atletico end. Neymar chips for Messi in the box. The magician that he is he traps and takes a bicycle kick with back to goal. There are oohs and aaahs as the ball misses the target by inches.

48" From the counter Neymar and Messi look good and the Argentine finds Suarez but the last-named is off-side. That was a good comeback from Barca.

47" What's happening here. Instead of Barca going into the attack it is Atletico who have come close to increasing their tally. Gierzmann misses from close.

Half-time

Barcelona 0 Atletico 1 (Torres 25')

Fernando Torres could turn from hero to villain if Atletico lose tonight against Barcelona. He scored a superb goal in the 25th but within 10 minutes he was sent for an early shower after receiving his second yellow card. Now with Atletico reduced to 10 men for almost the entire second half one has to see what tactics coach Diego Simeone employs to stop Messi, Neymar and Suarez who were kept quiet until now by some staunch defending.

45" Neymar tries a left-footer but it looks more out of desperation as the shot is wide off the mark.

43" Looks like a last chance before breather for Barca to level scores as Messi finds Neymar who heads to Suarez but the Uruguayan is off-side.

39" Mascherano takes a cracker of a shot but the tall Jan Oblak is well positioned to collect it.

35" RED CARD!  Goal-scorer Torres is shown his second yellow for catching Busquest with his knee from behind. Atletico are down to 10 men now after referee Felix Brych removes his red card.

32" Jordi Alba seems to have hurt his elbow as he comes out of play.. 

31" Griezmann lunges forward to receive a Torres cross on his chest and gets his left foot to it. There's no power to the shot and Ter Stegen dives to his left to palm it away.

YELLOW! Torres is booked for a tackle on Neymar.

Barcelona 0 Atletico 1 (Torres 25')

GOAL! Koke slides the pass through for Fernando Torres in oceans of space and the wily old fox puts the ball through the legs of Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

23" Antoine Griezman shoots over from close for Atletico.

18" Neymar misses from close. A timely cross from Alves saw the Brazilian dart in from behind a defender and leap high to nod what should have been a goal but the ball sailed over.

12" Messi makes a mess of a neat cross from Jordi Alba. The Argentinian has the ball coming to his left foot and tries to sidefoot it but is wide off the mark, not something you expect from the magician.

9" Torres works his way into the Barca box and crosses but there are no takers.

5" Neymar runs across the goal with the ball to find Messi at the top right of the box, the Argentinian's left-footer is wide and weak.

3" Sergio Busquets long bal into the box but its too high for Neymar to go for a header.

1" Messi tries to find Suarez but the ball runs away over the touchline. Barca making early forays.

Both teams are in the dug-out so fasten your seat belts and get ready for some excitement.

Barcelona make one change from Saturday's 'Clasico', bringing in German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the Champions League.
For Atletico, centre-half Diego Godin returns after a three-week injury absence. The Uruguayan and Belgium midfielder Yannick Carrasco start as coach Diego Simeone makes two changes from the 5-1 win against Real Betis.

Barca XI: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar.

Atletico XI: Jan Oblak, Juanfran, Diego Godin, Lucas, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Saul Niguez, Koke, Yannick Carrasco, Antoine Griezmann, Fernando Torres.

STAT ATTACK

Barcelona’s 39-match unbeaten run in La Liga ended with Saturday’s home defeat to Real Madrid

They have won their last 6 matches against Atletico in all competitions.

The Catalan club has won 6 of their last 7 matches (UEFA Champions League).

Barcelona have scored at least 2 goals in 6 of their last 7 matches (UEFA Champions League).

Atletico thrashed Real Betis 5-1 in La Liga before coming into this match

Two years ago, Atletico won their quarter-final tie against Barcelona 2-1 on aggregate after securing a 1-1 draw in the second leg at the Nou Camp

Torres has a fine record against Barcelona, having scored 10 goals against them in 14 games for Atletico and Chelsea

Atletico have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their last 6 matches (UEFA Champions League).

Atletico are undefeated in their last 6 matches (UEFA Champions League).

PROBABLE FORMATIONS
Barcelona: 4-3-3

Atletico: 4-4-2

Preview

Holders Barcelona will seek to overcome their defeat in El Clasico when they host Atletico Madrid on Tuesday in an all-Spanish Champions League quarter-final, first leg at the Camp Nou.

On a night when Barca paid tribute to the late Dutch great Johan Cruyff, the Catalan giants' 39-game unbeaten run came to a halt after goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo erased Gerard Pique's opener.

“For me this game is history,” said Barca coach Luis Enrique, electing to turn the page rather than reflect on Saturday's loss.

“There is no pain. We came into the game on the back of many games without losing, but defeats can teach you things and the players know that.”

Barcelona have won the last six meetings with Atletico, but it was Los Rojiblancos who advanced when the two sides clashed at this stage of the 2013-14 competition - the only time Barca have failed to reach the semis in the past eight seasons.

Bayern Munich host Portuguese league leaders Benfica in the first leg with Pep Guardiola's side bidding to reach the last four for the fifth year running.

Bayern laboured to a 1-0 win at home to Eintracht Frankfurt as they remained five points clear of Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga, but skipper Philipp Lahm warned they would need to up their level against Benfica.

“After an international break it's often difficult. That's perfectly normal,” said Lahm.

“I think it's going to be a completely different match (on Tuesday). We'll be perfectly prepared. We need a better performance, but I'm not worrying about that.”

Bayern will be without Arjen Robben at the Allianz Arena, but the hosts should have France winger Kingsley Coman available after sitting out Saturday's victory with a leg injury.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic powered Paris Saint-Germain to a 4-1 win over Nice at the weekend and the French champions will again look to their Swedish star when they take on Manchester City at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

Paris reached the Champions League semi-finals in 1994-95, but City, despite their indifferent Premier League displays, are through to the last eight for the first time.

Manuel Pellegrini's side rediscovered some form at the weekend though with a 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth, and PSG midfielder Thiago Motta said it would take a complete team effort to overcome City.

“It's not Ibra against City. It's Paris Saint-Germain against City. In my head, I've never thought about taking to the pitch and winning a game all alone. It's impossible,” Motta told French daily L'Equipe.

“If we put pressure on him like that, and if he puts it on himself like that, we're not good. If we win, we'll win as a team.”

Marco Verratti is sidelined for PSG and Javier Pastore is doubtful, while captain Vincent Kompany is missing for City who are also sweating over the fitness of Joe Hart and Yaya Toure.

Six straight wins have reignited Real's season but the Champions League represents their only realistic chance of silverware this term.

Zinedine Zidane's men travel to Germany on Wednesday for a first-ever meeting with Wolfsburg and head into the tie as heavy favourites against a side embarking on their best run in Europe's premier competition.

However, Wolfsburg have won just three of their last 15 Bundesliga games and were soundly beaten 3-0 at Bayer Leverkusen on Friday.

“Things don't look good for us right now. You can't say we deserve to be higher in the standings than we are right now,” said Julian Draxler, with Wolfsburg languishing in eighth place in Germany.

The mood is far more upbeat in the Real camp having avenged November's 4-0 home drubbing at the hands of Barca, with Wales star Gareth Bale optimistic they can finish the season in style.

“We're feeling strong, confident now, and it's one final push until the end of the season,” said Bale.

“(Saturday's win) really does put us mentally in a strong position, we can beat anyone on our day and we showed that.

“Barcelona have been saying they're the best team and we beat them in their own backyard."

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