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Barcelona recover to down ten-man Atlético

Barcelona 2-1 Atlético
Luis Suárez inspired the home side to a redemptive win after Fernando Torres scored and was sent off before half-time for the visitors.

Highlights: Watch Suárez's Barcelona double
  • Barcelona come from behind to claim narrow quarter-final first-leg win
  • The Catalan giants post seventh successive victory over Atlético
  • Fernando Torres scores first UEFA Champions League goal for Atleti before red card
  • Luis Suárez makes it eight in eight in this season's competition
  • Second leg in Madrid on 13 April, with semi-final draw two days later

Luis Suárez scored two second-half goals as Barcelona came from behind to maintain their recent hex over an Atlético Madrid side reduced to ten men early on.

The hosts' run of six straight wins against the Rojiblancos was in doubt when Fernando Torres netted his first UEFA Champions League goal for Atleti, but a red card for the striker soon after tilted the balance their way. Suárez tapped in an equaliser just after the hour before heading in the first-leg winner, but this quarter-final tie is far from over.

Suárez pleased with Barcelona response

The first half was all about Torres: the good, the bad and the ugly. His goal was a peach, running through a gaping hole in the Barcelona back line and collecting Koke's lovely dinked pass before firing nervelessly between the onrushing Marc-André ter Stegen's legs.

A clumsy yellow card soon followed but that swinging arm looked graceful compared to the ungainly tackle on Sergio Busquets that earned a second booking. There were still ten minutes of the first half remaining yet Barcelona, seeking redemption after Saturday's home loss to Real Madrid, struggled to make inroads.

How Atlético beat Barcelona in 2014

They had had their chances, with Neymar and Lionel Messi both passing up openings they might ordinarily have snapped up, but the home side were blunted. Luis Enrique must have spent the interval with a whetstone because as the second period got under way his players were razor-sharp.

With the tempo ratcheted up, Neymar curled an shot against the bar and Filipe Luís, Juanfran and Diego Godín all made desperate last-ditch challenges. Messi sent an acrobatic effort centimetres wide and finally Suárez found a way through, deflecting in Jordi Alba's volley.

A second duly followed, a header to complete a lovely move of one-touch football, yet Atlético restricted the damage and this tie is still in the balance.