Atletico Madrid stun 10-man Barcelona to take huge step towards Champions League sems

KING JULIAN: Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez celebrares after scoring. Pic: AP Photo/Kin Cheung.

Barcelona 0 Atletico Madrid 2 (Alvarez 45, Sorloth 70)

Antoine Greizmann’s dream of finally winning a Champions League trophy before he leaves Atletico Madrid is still on after his side turned the form tables on their head by beating 10-man Barcelona 2-0 in the Camp Nou.

Goals from Julian Alvarez, a stunning free-kick just before halftime, and substitute Alexander Sorloth after 70 minutes, secured an unexpected win for the visitors - who had failed to win in Barca on their previous 25 visits to the legendary stadium in all competitions.

The game also included a bizarre moment of controversy which went unseen by referee Kovacs, when Atletico substitute Marc Pubill picked up a pass from his goalkeeper after 55 minutes and set the ball back down ready for a goal kick.

Perhaps it was a moment of madness or confusion, but the letter of the law deems that a penalty - and potentially a red card for Pubill who had already been booked. It would be harsh on Atleti to say it decided the tie but it left the Barca bench furious.

It was also, remarkably, the first time that Atletico manager Diego Simeone had ever won at the Camp Nou.

It took a red card for Pau Cubarsi just before the break to make it happen but, nevertheless, it was a special victory that also sets up the possibility of an emotional farewell party for Griezmann.

The Frenchman, a former Barca player of course, will be leaving Atleti at the end of the season to join Orlando City in the MLS and was given a fulsome tribute by his manager Diego Simeone ahead of this tie in the pre-match press conference.

In the end he wasn’t the man who won the game, but it was still a memorable night for a player, and a team, that have found in-form Barca an extremely difficult nut to crack in recent seasons.

This is the forward’s 13th attempt to win the Champions League and, you must assume, at the age of 35, his last. But on this hard-working and ruthless display it’s far from being an impossibility – becoming the first team to prevent Barca scoring at home in 39 games.

Barcelona, sitting top of La Lig and in outstanding form, went into this tie as huge favourites, especially as they had only just beaten Atleti away from home in a league fixture four days previously – and hadn’t lost at home to the Madrid side since 2006.

The key moment in the game came shortly before half-time when Barca defender Cubarsi clipped the heels Giuliano Simeone after the forward was put through on goal by a clever pass from Alvarez.

He initially escaped a red card but, following a VAR review, was eventually sent off by referee Istan Kovacs – and rightly so.

The advantage was quickly underlined by Atletico when Alvarez stepped up to take the free-kick, dipping it perfectly into the net, beating goalkeeper Joan Garcia with ease. His ninth goal in 12 games in the Champions League so far this season.

The irony was that Barca had dominated the opening half hour of the game, with Marcus Rashford giving Atletico right-back Nahuel Molina an extremely difficult start to the night. He even had the ball in the net, cleverly finishing Lamine Yamal’s low cross at the back post; but it was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

The Camp Nou was briefly silent as their players headed into the half-time break 1-0 down; but the atmosphere changed briefly after the break as Barca upped the tempo – and Rashford thundered a free-kick against the crossbar inside the opening 10 minutes.

In the end, however, it proved to be a change made by Simeone, bringing on big striker Sorloth, that made the difference. The Norwegian finished emphatically at the near post, steering home an excellent cross from left-back Matteo Ruggeri after 70 minutes.

Of course, you can never rule out Barca in the Champions League but 2-0 is big advantage for Atleti going into the second leg and it means Griezmann’s dream is very much alive.

Barcelona: Garcia 6; Kounde 6 (Araujo 73; 6), Martin 6, Curbasi 5, Cancelo 7; Pedri (Gavi 46; 6) Garcia 6, Olmo 6; Yamal 7, Lewandowski 6 (Fermin 46; 6), Rashford 7 (Ferran Torres 73; 6).

Atletico Madrid: Musso 8; Molina 7 Le Normand 7, Hancko 6 (Pubill 23; 7), Ruggeri 8; Giuliano Simeone 7 (Almada 80; 6), Llorente 7, Koke 6 (Alex Baena 60; 6), Lookman 6 (Sorloth 60; 7); Griezmann 7, Álvarez 9.

Referee: Istvan Kovacs.