Barcelona are on the brink of a shock Champions League quarter-final exit after a 2-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night at Camp Nou.
Atletico took a commanding step towards the semi-finals with goals from Julian Alvarez and substitute Alexander Sorloth. The result leaves Hansi Flick’s side needing a miracle in next week’s second leg.
It was the fifth meeting between the teams this season and their second clash in just four days, following Barcelona’s 2-1 La Liga victory at Atletico on Saturday.
The hosts dominated the opening period and created several clear chances. Juan Musso made a vital early block to deny Marcus Rashford, while Antoine Griezmann went close to connecting with Ademola Lookman’s dangerous cross-shot.
Rashford even had the ball in the net in the 18th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for an offside against Lamine Yamal earlier in the move.
The turning point came in the final moments of the first half. A VAR review led to Pau Cubarsi’s red card for a last-man foul on Giuliano Simeone, denying a clear one-on-one with goalkeeper Joan Garcia.
From the resulting 25-yard free-kick, Alvarez produced a sensational strike, whipping the ball over the wall and beyond the diving goalkeeper.
Flick responded at half-time by replacing Robert Lewandowski and Pedri, yet Barcelona continued to press aggressively despite being a man down.
Rashford remained their main threat, hitting the side netting after rounding Musso and later seeing a blistering free-kick, from almost the same position as Alvarez’s goal, tipped onto the crossbar by the Atletico keeper.
Atletico struggled to escape their own half but silenced the Camp Nou crowd again in the 70th minute when Sorloth swept home Matteo Ruggeri’s first-time delivery with a clinical left-footed finish.
Joao Cancelo struck the outside of the post late on as Barcelona threw everything forward in search of a lifeline.
The home fans applauded their team at full-time, but Barcelona now face a mountain to climb if they are to avoid elimination.
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