Barcelona showed more lethargy against Atletico Madrid
It was a keenly contested champions league game on Tuesday when Barca played Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou. Fenando Torres who would have been a hero for Atletico Madrid went from Hero to villain for receiving two yellow cards that resulted in a red card in the first half of the fierce encounter
After a Clasico loss to Real Madrid on Saturday, Barcelona failed to turn up early in a champions league game against another Madrid side that showed a spirited performance in their defense line and counter attacking tactics. Atletico Madrid confidence was boosted by Barcelona loss to Real Madrid in the Saturday Clasico. They (Atletico Madrid) manned their defense line very well from the start of the game and Barcelona despite all the possession was unable to bridge Atletico defense line until 25th minutes of the game when Atletico Madrid broke the deadlock through Fenando Torres well placed shot under the legs of Ter Stegen. That goal represented Torres 11th goal in 15 games against Barcelona FC.
But just 10 minutes after scoring the goal, Torres picked up the first needless yellow card when he looked deliberately hack down Neymar. He received the second booking and a red card when he brought down Sergio Busquet. From then on, Barca turned on the pressure on Atletico Madrid. Neymar was particularly a thorn in the skin of Atletico. However, Luis Enrique’s men had Luis Suarez to thank for the victory when the Uruguay striker steered home an effort from Jordi Alba on 63 minutes and he nodded his second of the night 16 minutes from the end of the game for a Dani Alves cross. That second goal was Suarez seventh goal in five champions league games at Camp Nou this season.
The loss represents the seventh loss in a row to the European champion. Atletico Madrid will consider their away goal advantage when the second leg comes up at Vicente Calderon next week Wednesday.
Even though it was off target, Barcelona created the first real chance of the game through Dani Alves cross from the right side of the field, but Neymar headed it over the bar from six yards. Antonie Griezman also dragged his own chance wide the Stegen goal. Atletico were more clinical when Koke sent a ball behing the trailing leg of Gerard Pique to Fenando Torres, who shot low through the legs of Ter Stegen in Barca goal.
Griezman was denied by a Ter Stegen finger tip from scoring the second goal. Camp Nou was given a lifeline when Torres was shown a red card for a second bookable offence after fouling Sergio Busquet from behind. Barca turned on the heat on Atletico after Torres's marching order when Messi chested Neymar’s cross down and sent an over-head kick wide of the post. Neymar also curled a fierce effort onto the crossbar. Barca had many shots off target and on target until Suarez steered home a cross from Alba to make it 1-1. Barcelona buoyed by the equalizer, camped Atletico in their half and a cross from Dani Alves landed perfectly for Suarez to nod his second goal of the night home. The referee denied Messi a late penalty when he fell in the box under pressure. The second leg is certainly going to be an encounter to watch out for.
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