Atletico defeats 10-man Barcelona in Champions League quarterfinal first leg

Thursday April 9, 2026

FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal (2nd L) competes during the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg football match between FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid in Barcelona, Spain, April 8, 2026. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)

Atletico Madrid left Barcelona with a commanding Champions League quarterfinal advantage on Wednesday, as goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth delivered a 2-0 first-leg victory away from home.

The outcome gives Atletico firm control of the tie and comes as a striking turnaround after Barcelona’s 2-1 La Liga win between the sides just days ago. Diego Simeone’s men absorbed an early storm, then took charge after the interval, when a numerical edge helped them dictate the contest.

Barcelona made the sharper start at Camp Nou, where goalkeeper Juan Musso twice turned away Marcus Rashford in a lively, end-to-end opening spell. Joan Garcia also had to be alert at the other end, producing a save to deny Alvarez.

The hosts briefly celebrated what looked like the opening goal when Lamine Yamal teed up Rashford, only for the strike to be chalked off after Yamal was ruled offside.

Atletico rode their luck as Rashford stayed dangerous and Koke escaped a second yellow card after a foul on Yamal, while Barcelona gradually settled into control of possession.

The match shifted in the 42nd minute when Pau Cubarsi hauled down Giuliano Simeone as he chased a long clearance. The referee first produced a yellow card, then upgraded it to red after a VAR review.

Alvarez made the extra man count almost immediately, curling the resulting free kick beyond Garcia to send Atletico into halftime ahead.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick turned to Gavi and Fermin Lopez at the break, withdrawing Robert Lewandowski and Pedri, and his team came out aggressively despite being reduced to 10 men.

Rashford again tested Musso with a free kick that clipped the crossbar, while Dani Olmo went close from a corner as Barcelona searched for a route back into the tie.

Atletico struck again in the 70th minute, with Sorloth sweeping home left-footed after Matteo Ruggeri supplied a cross from the left.

From there, Simeone’s side saw out the closing stages with little trouble as Barcelona faded, leaving Atletico well placed to book a place in the semifinals.