Atletico Madrid took a firm grip of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final after a clinical 2-0 first-leg win over Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou.

Goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth secured the result, with the tie swinging decisively after Barcelona were reduced to 10 men in the first half.

Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi was sent off following a VAR review for a last-man challenge, and Atletico capitalised immediately. Alvarez stepped up to curl a superb free-kick into the top corner, shifting momentum just before the break.

Despite playing with a numerical disadvantage, Barcelona controlled large spells but failed to convert their chances. Atletico then struck again in the second half, with Sorloth finishing off a well-worked move to deepen the hosts’ problems.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said:

“You get nothing for being the better team. We were not lucky today. We had a good first half and then the red card and the goal. In the second half we played well with one player less.

“Atletico have high quality in the offence; their strikers are really good, but we have to stay positive. We have the quality to win there. It will be tough, but it is our great goal to reach the final.

“It feels a little bit far away, but we have the quality.”

On the red card incident, he added:

“For me it’s unbelievable. Why didn’t the VAR call to say, ‘look at this situation’? I cannot understand that. It was a clear start to the game and a handball. It is a yellow card and a penalty to us.”

Atletico forward Ademola Lookman said:

“Good result and performance from the team, especially not to concede here. That shows the work that everyone has been doing on togetherness.

“Scoring after they had a man sent off was key. Brilliant free-kick from Julian and the timing of Alexander Sorloth’s goal as well.

“Barcelona are a top team and they put you in difficult moments. When you get your moments, you have to take them and we did that.

“The second leg is going to be a massive challenge and a massive game.”

The result ended Atletico’s long wait for a win at Camp Nou and puts Diego Simeone’s side in a strong position ahead of the return leg in Madrid.

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