Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain – Atletico Madrid secured a historic 2-0 victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night, ending a 26-match winless streak at the stadium to take a commanding lead in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.
Okay News reports that the match turned sharply in favor of Diego Simeone’s men following a first-half red card for Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí. Despite the one-man disadvantage, Hansi Flick’s side fought to stay in the game, with Marcus Rashford coming closest to an equalizer when his powerful second-half free kick was tipped onto the crossbar by Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso.
However, the visitors’ clinical edge proved decisive. After an earlier goal put them ahead, Alexander Sørloth doubled the lead in the 70th minute, meeting a cross from Ruggeri with a first-time finish that silenced the home crowd. Barcelona pushed late into stoppage time, but a frustrated effort from Dani Olmo in the final seconds summed up a night of missed opportunities for the La Liga leaders.
The result puts Atletico Madrid in the driver’s seat ahead of next week’s second leg at the Metropolitano. The winner of this all-Spanish clash is set to face either Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.
