Julian Alvarez doing his signature spider goal celebration. Photo from Atletico Madrid

FC Barcelona 0 – 2 Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid are victorious away at the Camp Nou in the Champions League quarterfinals. The reutrn leg is set to take place on Tuesday, April 14, where Simeone and his squad can punch their ticket to their first Champions League semifinal since 2017.

Despite still missing Jan Oblak and Pablo Barrios, Juan Musso and company stepped up for the challenge. After a back-and-forth opening 10 minutes, Barcelona began to take control of the game. In response, Simeone lowered his line and absorbed Barcelona’s attacks. Barcelona found success attacking through the wings with Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford. While Matteo Ruggeri and Nahuel Molina seemed to be getting beat time and time again, nothing could get past Musso.

Atletico ran into an issue early in the match when David Hancko went down with an apparent ankle injury, which forced him to exit the game. Marc Pubil took his place.

For 40 minutes, Atleti fans watched through their fingers as Barcelona dribbled through the rojiblanco’s defense, their hearts skipping a beat with every shot and cross into the box.

In a quick turn of events, a pass from Julian Alvarez sent Giuliano Simeone through on goal with only Joan Garcia to beat, when Barcelona center back Pau Cubarsi brought down the Argentine preventing a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The referee, Istan Kovcas, went to VAR to review for a possible red card, which ultimately was shown to Cubarsi.

Alvarez stepped up for the free kick just outside the 18 yard box, hitting an absolute worldie into the top right corner past Garcia’s outstreched hand to give Atletico the lead just before halftime.

Going into the second half, Barcelona did not appear fazed down to just 10 men, as they continued to test Musso. They continued to press the colchoneros who found it difficult to hold possession and build up an attack.

In the 53rd minute, during a goal kick, Pubil questionably touched the ball in the box after Musso kicked the ball over to him. Barcelona argued for a handball, but the referee dismissed it, saying Musso was simply passing the ball over for Pubil to take the goal kick. Hansi Flick, the team, and the fans all though the action was deserving of a penalty and yellow card, but neither were given.

In the 60th minute, Simeone subbed on Alex Baena and the Barca killer, Alexander Sorloth.

Alexander Sorloth celebrating his goal. Photo from Atletico Madrid

As time went on in the second half, being a man down began to take its toll on Barcelona. Atletico looked destined to score a second or even third goal, and sure enough, in the 70th minute, Antoine Griezmann finds Ruggeri making a run down the left-hand side. Ruggeri whipped in a first-time cross right to the foot of Sorloth who put it past Garcia to give Atletico a two goal lead with 20 minutes remaining.

Barcelona tried everything to get a goal back, but the Atletico defense stood strong and thwarted every chance.

After 3 minutes of added time, the referee blew the final whistle and Simeone went running straight to the locker room, as he usually does, proud of his team for coming away with such an important win.

Atletico travels to Sevilla on Saturday April 11, before hosting Barcelona for the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.