Atlético Madrid took a significant 2-0 lead from their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg away to FC Barcelona on Wednesday night.
A Pau Cubarsí red card just before half time made way for an excellent Julián Alvarez free-kick, before Alexander Sørloth doubled the advantage in the second period.
Here are Into the Calderón’s player ratings for this one.
Player ratings
Juan Musso: Our resident stand-in had a couple of simple stops in the first half before being alert to tip a Marcus Rashford free-kick onto
the bar early in the second. A much-needed first clean sheet in Europe this season for Atleti, and Musso can claim his part in it. 6
Nahuel Molina: In a shaky first half, Molina worryingly left Rashford free at the back post to tap in — the offside flag relating to a previous pass relieving him of his lapse in concentration. As the game grew, so did he, justifying his initial selection over Marc Pubill. 7
Robin Le Normand: I think Robin deserves his flowers here, putting in a strong performance when we have seen so few this season from him. He was shifted over to left center-back when Hancko was taken off after half an hour and ensured he clattered into everyone possible, not allowing any player or ball past him tonight. 7
Dávid Hancko: Leapt up completely by himself for a ball that was going way over his head, only to land awkwardly on his left ankle to have his participation cut short to 30 minutes tonight. n/a
Matteo Ruggeri: So often Ruggeri finds himself having to play out from a tight spot in the back left corner of the pitch, and to his credit, more times than not gets out of there. His partnership with Alexander Sørloth also continues to flourish; another Italian to Norwegian goal from a left-side cross tonight. Lets hope he can continue to mute Lamine Yamal next week as well. 7
Giuliano Simeone: It was a run through-the-middle that got him the opener at the weekend in Madrid, and a similar move tonight provoked the Cubarsí red card that tilted the match in Atleti’s favour. It was a theme of the night, as one was also made in the minutes leading up to Sørloth’s goal. Perhaps something his old man has worked up on the training ground as a way to take advantage of the Barça high line. 7
Marcos Llorente: Could we have expected anything less from this guy? He really does give such an advantage in the middle of the park with the extra lung he posseses somewhere in that perfect body of his. After Koke was substituted out, he took up the position he was originally signed to play in seven years ago, and one which I can see him going on to be useful in for the rest of his career if needed. Defensive midfield looks good on you, loco. 8
Koke: An industrious hour from the captain, taken off with a yellow card to leave the midfield thin. He’ll be imperative to the second leg given the lack of players in his department that Atleti currently have available. 5
Ademola Lookman: There was a moment in the LALIGA fixture at the weekend where it seemed as if El Cholo was giving Lookman (on the bench) an instruction for him to keep in mind for today’s game, but any sign of the plan working was absent tonight. I fail to remember any significant touches on the ball from the Nigerian and it was for that reason Simeone hooked him off after 60 minutes. Are we starting to see a slight decline from Mola in this important stage of the season? 3
Antoine Griezmann: In his final appearance at the Camp Nou, Griezmann showed once again why his move to the MLS feels so premature. Light touches and hard work is his game, and he displayed it brilliantly in front of the ever-growing stadium capacity that he once played in front of. 7
Julián Alvarez: A match winner. Having squandered a precious early chance, la araña delivered a piece of magic with a stunning free-kick just before half time. Joan García was nowhere near the ball as it cleaned the corner of the goalposts of the cobwebs that he probably put there in the first place. He had a more laborious task in the second half which he embraced and delivered upon too. 8
Substitutes
Marc Pubill: There was expectations for him to start either in the middle or on the right of the back line, but it was Molina who was eventually preferred, with Pubill still not deemed 100 percent fit to begin the match. All changed when Hancko had to part with the match, and it became evident straight away how much we’ve missed the young Spaniard at the back. Unfortunately he did pick up a yellow card which rules him out of the next leg at home, and it will be costly to how Atleti set themselves up for that one. 7
Álex Baena: A useful performance from Baena who came onto the pitch with a high temperament and some excellent passes. He picked up a yellow card for his troubles and wasn’t far from receiving another. Seeing him in a deeper, more central role looked to really suit him, although he was presented with more time than usual against 10 men. 7
Alexander Sørloth: On the hour was the perfect time to bring on the big man, giving an outlet so different to what Atleti had before he appeared. A brilliant cross from his frequent provider Ruggeri and the Norwegian finished clinically to make it 2-0. 7
Nico: A better performance than at the weekend due to the fact he played on the opposite flank to where Lamine Yamal was and didn’t get sent off. 5
Thiago Almada: Ran around really well and kicked it a few times to his teammates, and sometimes not. I would love to see him have a real impact at the weekend against Sevilla. 5
