Reuters
Barcelona, April 6: Barcelona’s Luis Suarez netted twice for a 2-1 win over 10-man Atletico Madrid in their Champions League quarterfinal, first leg here Tuesday after the visitors’ Fernando Torres opened the scoring and was sent off 10 minutes later.
After a flurry of chances for the home side, Suarez levelled from close range in the 63rd minute through a fortuitous shot and then headed the winner in the 74th, giving the European champions the edge before next week’s second leg at the Vicente Calderon. But then Atletico coach Diego Simeone would definitely be happy at just having conceded a one-goal advantage only.
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, a nasty challenge on Sergio Busquets, as they suffered a seventh straight loss to Barca.
Atletico had been in confident mood after thrashing Real Betis 5-1 in La Liga, Saturday and were looking to take advantage of Barcelona, who were reeling from a 1-2 home defeat by Real Madrid that ended their record 39-game unbeaten run.
“We are still alive in the tie,” 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.
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.
Meanwhile in the other quarterfinal first leg played in the night, Bayern Munich took a slender 1-0 lead against Benfica at the Allianz Arena. The goal came as early as the second minute with Arturo Vidal heading in a cross from the left.
