Atlético de Madrid defeated FC Barcelona 2-0 at Camp Nou in the first leg of the 2025-2026 Champions League quarterfinals. Julián Álvarez scored from a free kick after Pau Cubarsí's expulsion, and Alexander Sorloth sealed the win. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick heavily criticized the refereeing for not awarding a penalty to his team.
Atlético de Madrid beat FC Barcelona 2-0 at Camp Nou in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. Julián Álvarez opened the scoring with a direct free kick at the end of the first half, following Pau Cubarsí's expulsion for fouling Giuliano Rambaudi. Alexander Sorloth extended the lead in the second half with a header from Valentín Ruggeri's cross.
Referee Kovács used VAR to show Cubarsí a straight red card, the young center-back's second since his first-team debut. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick questioned the call: "I'm not sure if he touched it enough". He was more outspoken about Marc Pubill's handball in the Atlético box: "I don't understand why VAR didn't intervene. It should have been a penalty, second yellow, and red".
Barcelona's Ronald Araujo did not see the expulsion play but believed in a comeback: "This team has the capacity to come back". Atlético's Antoine Griezmann cautioned: "We're happy with the win, but there's a lot to do. The semifinal is still far away".
Tensions ran high: the Atlético bus was pelted with objects, breaking two windows despite heavy police presence. The return leg is set for the Metropolitano in six days.
