Atlético Madrid beat Barcelona 2-0 in the quarter-final first leg at the Camp Nou on a night that broke a long run of home certainty and handed Diego Simeone's team a result they have not managed there since 2006. Alexander Sörloth scored the second goal after Barcelona were reduced to 10 men before the break, and Barcelona now head to Madrid next Tuesday carrying a heavy deficit.
Pau Cubarsi was sent off before halftime for fouling Giuliano Simeone as he went in alone on goal, and Julian Alvarez almost punished the foul immediately by curling the resulting free-kick off the crossbar from about 20 meters. That left Barcelona chasing the game with a man down, and despite flashes from the 23-year-old Lamine Yamal and a conspicuous first half from Marcus Rashford, they could not find a decisive response.
Atlético's first away win against Barcelona since 2006 ended a 25-match run in which Barcelona had not lost a competitive game at the Camp Nou. Juan Musso made a very assured impression after coming on as substitute goalkeeper, helping steady a team that looked increasingly in control as the match went on.
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Barcelona were the more active and dangerous side in the second half even with 10 men, but the damage was already done. They cannot afford another mistake before the second leg, and the scale of the task is now clear: next Tuesday's trip to Madrid is no longer about protecting an advantage, but about finding a way back into a tie they have already allowed to slip.
