Atlético Madrid took a huge step towards the Champions League semi-finals as Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth secured a 2-0 first-leg win at 10-man Barcelona, ending the hosts' 14-game winning run at the revamped Spotify Camp Nou and giving Diego Simeone his first victory there in 15 years as Atlético head coach.
Barcelona were the better side for much of a breathless first half, but a foul by Pau Cubarsí on Giuliano Simeone just before the break was upgraded by VAR from yellow to red, and Álvarez immediately curled in a stunning free-kick. Sørloth swept home a second 20 minutes from time, leaving Hansi Flick's side with it all to do in Madrid next Tuesday.
Breathless Opening at the Camp Nou
The first shot came inside 80 seconds, Marcus Rashford forcing a save from Juan Musso, and both sides could have scored inside the opening five minutes. Standing in for the injured Raphinha, Rashford tore into Nahuel Molina and had four efforts inside half an hour, with one strike ruled out for a Lamine Yamal offside.