Barcelona 0-2 Atletico Madrid: Ruthless visitors in control after early red card

Atletico Madrid took full advantage of a first-half red card for Barcelona as they picked up a huge 2-0 win at the Nou Camp in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final first leg.

The home side had been largely on top when defender Pau Cubarsi was dismissed in the 44th minute for tripping Giuliano Simeone.

Referee Istvan Kovacs initially booked the centre-back but was called to his monitor and decided a straight red card was the right call.

And Barca were given a double blow when former Manchester City man Julian Alvarez stepped up to bend in a quite brilliant goal from the resulting free-kick.

Despite being down to 10 men Barca then bossed the start of the second half with England man Marcus Rashford close to a leveller.

But striker Alexander Sorloth came off the bench to volley in a sweet second and put Atletico in pole position for another Champions League semi-final.

It’s the first time Diego Simeone has won at the Nou Camp as a manager.

Atlético Madrid have caused Barcelona immense pain in Europe, famously eliminating them at this stage in 2014 and 2016.

Alvarez could have put Atleti ahead with a wonderful solo run and shot before Rashford had the ball in the net but the offside flag was up against Lamine Yamal in the build up.

There was no stopping Alvarez to open the scoring with the first free-kick scored against Barca in the Champions League in nine years.

Rashford went through the middle after the break as part of a reshuffle and had another chance but put it wide after going round the keeper.

He then rattled the crossbar with a dipping free-kick of his own as Barca impressed.

But Sorloth came on to fire in brilliantly from Matteo Ruggeri’s cross as Atletico won at the Nou Camp for the first time in 20 years.

The winners after next week’s second leg in Madrid will play either Arsenal or Sporting in the last four.

Atleti have reached three European Cup finals without winning the famous trophy.