Atletico Madrid end 20-year streak with historic Champions League win over Barcelona
- Atletico Madrid secured a 2-0 away win over Barcelona, ending a 25-game winless run at Camp Nou and taking control of the quarter-final tie
- Julian Alvarez opened the scoring after Pau Cubarsi’s red card, before substitute Alexander Sorloth sealed the result
- The victory marked Diego Simeone’s first-ever win at Camp Nou and put Atletico in a strong position to reach the semi-finals
Atletico Madrid ended a 25-match winless run against Barcelona at Camp Nou with a commanding 2-0 victory in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night.
Goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth handed Diego Simeone’s side a crucial two-goal advantage over Hansi Flick’s Barcelona.
Source: Getty Images
The match took a decisive turn late in the first half when Pau Cubarsi was sent off for a last-man foul on Giuliano Simeone.
Alvarez stepped up to convert the resulting free kick, giving Atletico a vital lead heading into the break.
Watch Julian Alvarez's freekick below:
Barcelona attempted to respond after the restart but struggled to break down Atletico’s disciplined defence.
Their frustrations grew as substitute Sorloth came off the bench to add a second goal, effectively sealing the win for the visitors. Despite their efforts, the Catalan side were unable to find the net on home soil.
Atletico Madrid end 20-year record
The result was especially meaningful for Diego Simeone, as it marked his first-ever victory at Camp Nou as Atletico manager.
It also brought an end to Barcelona’s impressive 25-game unbeaten home run against Atletico across all competitions, a streak dating back to February 2006 when a team led by Pepe Murcia secured a 3-1 La Liga win.
Source: Getty Images
Atletico also broke another unwanted record, registering their first away win in the Champions League against a fellow La Liga side after failing to win any of their previous five such matches.
Simeone’s side now carry a strong advantage into the second leg of the tie, with confidence boosted by their history against Barcelona at this stage.
On both previous occasions in 2014 and 2016, Atletico eliminated the Catalan giants and went on to reach the final.
Although Atletico did beat Barcelona 2-1 away in La Liga in December 2024, that match was played at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys rather than Camp Nou, making this victory even more significant.
With a place in the semi-finals at stake, Atletico are in a strong position and could face either Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon next.
However, Barcelona remain a dangerous opponent, having won five of their last seven meetings with Atletico, including a 3-0 victory last month and a 2-1 win at the Metropolitano in La Liga last weekend.
Simeone’s secret scheme to stop Yamal
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Diego Simeone is reportedly preparing a calculated plan to limit the influence of Lamine Yamal.
The Argentine-born gaffer has instructed his players to target and provoke Yamal during the match.
The strategy is rooted in the fact that the 18-year-old has already accumulated four yellow cards in the Champions League. One more booking would result in a suspension, ruling him out of the crucial second leg
Source: YEN.com.gh
