Luis Suárez double get Barcelona past 10-man Atlético Madrid

Luis Suárez scored twice for Barcelona in a 2-1 home win against 10-man Atlético Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final first leg after Fernando Torres had opened the scoring but was then sent off.

After a flurry of chances, Suárez levelled from close range in the 63rd minute and headed the winner in the 74th, giving the European champions the edge before the second leg at the Vicente Calderón next week.

Atlético got off to the ideal start when Torres fired Koke’s pass through the legs of Marc-André ter Stegen after 25 minutes but 10 minutes later he was dismissed for a second booking as they endured a seventh successive defeat against Barça.


Atlético had been in confident mood after beating Real Betis 5-1 in La Liga on Saturday and were looking to take advantage of Barcelona, who were reeling from a 2-1 home defeat by Real Madrid that ended their record 39-game unbeaten run.






Simeone’s men defended as a team and their organised play and high pressing interrupted Barcelona’s usual quick passing game.

After Lionel Messi and Neymar missed the target in the early stages, Atlético pounced with their first proper chance. After a long spell of possession, Koke received a pass from Gabi and took a touch before threading the ball into the path of Torres, who got his 11th goal in 15 matches against Barcelona.

The former Liverpool and Chelsea striker received a booking for a late tackle on Neymar four minutes after scoring and was handed a second yellow minutes later for fouling Sergio Busquets.

Atlético had two players sent off when they lost against the Catalan side in La Liga and were again punished for indiscipline.

After half-time Messi was inches away from his 500th career goal with a scissors kick before Neymar hit the far post and then sent a shot whistling just wide.

Barcelona broke Atlético’s resistance when Suárez diverted Jordi Alba’s low cross home with his shin and then powered into the area to head Dani Alves’s cross past Jan Oblak to score the winner with his eighth Champions League goal this season.