Off the wire
• Chicago agricultural commodities close mixed  • Crude prices rebound after huge loss  • 1st LD Writethru: U.S. dollar falls against yen amid global rout  • Nigeria seeks collaboration to end terrorism sponsorship in Africa  • Nigeria establishes camp for repentant Boko Haram members  • British FTSE 100 deceases 1.19 pct  • Moscow voices high expectations for Syria peace talks  • U.S. stocks extend losses amid mixed data  • 1st LD Writethru: Gold up on weaker U.S. equities  • Polish stud farm under probe over Arabian mare deaths  
You are here: 　 Home

Suarez's double helps Barca beat 10-man Atletico

Xinhua, April 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

FC Barcelona will take a slender 2-1 lead to the Vicente Calderon Stadium for their Champions League quarter-final second leg after two second half goals from Luis Suarez helped them beat Atletico Madrid.

An intense game between the first and second sides in the Spanish league was perhaps decided by Atletico striker Fernando Torres, who left the pitch with 55 minutes to play.

Dieho Simeone' s side was able to recall Diego Godin and youngster Lucas, who replaced injured Stefan Savic, in the heart of the visitors' defense, while Barca named an unchanged starting 11 to that which lost to Real Madrid on Saturday.

It was clear from the start that Atletico had come to Barcelona to fight every inch of the way and although Barca went close through a Messi shot which went wide and a Neymar header which flashed over the bar, they were not finding space or time in midfield.

Antoine Griezmann sounded a warning to the home side with a shot which flashed wide of the post, before Torres put Atletico ahead after 25 minutes after being set up by Koke.

The striker then blotted his copybook by getting sent off for two yellow cards: the first for a challenge on Neymar and the second for going through the back of Sergio Busquets.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone couldn' t believe it on the touchline, but both of the referee' s decisions were correct.

Barca started the second half strongly and after Yannick Carrasco sent a low ball across their 6-yard box, Messi was inches wide with an overhead kick before Neymar hit the woodwork with a curling shot.

The home side were laying siege to the Atletico goal and Messi drew a full length save from Jan Oblak, before Suarez finally leveled the score on 62 minutes after diverting home Jordi Alba' s misplaced shot.

Suarez scored Barca' s second 16 minutes from time with a brilliant header from Dani Alves' cross as Barca kept their foot on the accelerator, prompting Simeone to introduce Thomas Teye for Antoine Griezmann.

Rafinha came on for Barca for his first appearance since injuring his knee in six months as Barca looked to retain their pressure in the closing minutes. Endit