Champions League expert Álvarez demonstrates what Barça lacks

BARCELONA, Spain — Julián Álvarez showcased to Barcelona what they are lacking on Wednesday as Atlético Madrid concluded a 20-year drought for a victory at Camp Nou with a 2-0 win, bringing them closer to a UEFA Champions League semifinal.

Álvarez netted the opening goal in the 45th minute with a remarkable free kick following Pau Cubarsí’s red card for a last-man foul on Giuliano Simeone just outside the box. Substitute Alexander Sørloth secured the second goal with 20 minutes remaining, placing Atlético in a strong position ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg at the Metropolitano.

This result ended Atlético’s lengthy wait for a win at Camp Nou, making them the first visiting team to triumph at the renovated stadium since Barcelona’s return last November. The last victory for Atlético here was in 2006. The streak, which had reached 25 matches, began five years prior to Diego Simeone’s appointment as coach. Now, Simeone has finally achieved his Camp Nou victory, largely thanks to his compatriot.

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It was Álvarez’s spectacular strike that made the difference, particularly as it followed immediately after Cubarsí’s dismissal, delivering a double setback for Barça that they may perceive as unjust given the minimal contact from the center-back on the advancing Simeone. The referee initially issued a yellow card to Cubarsí, which was later upgraded to red after a VAR review.

What followed was exceptional. Álvarez struck the top corner from 25 yards, celebrating in front of the thousands of Atlético supporters shielded by glass in the second tier of Camp Nou. As those in red-and-white rejoiced, the home fans might have wondered how the match could have unfolded had Álvarez been on their team.

Barcelona is seeking a No. 9 this summer. Robert Lewandowski is aging, and Ferran Torres is entering the final year of his contract. Álvarez could prove too costly—Atlético would demand well over €100 million for him—but he remains the Blaugrana’s ideal target.

“Julián is in great form,” Atlético teammate Antoine Griezmann stated after the match. “He’s got that something extra—and I hope he can take us all the way to the final.”

His goal marked his ninth in the Champions League this season, along with four assists for a total of 13 goal contributions. Only Kylian Mbappé, with 15, has more in the competition.

However, it is not solely his goals. It is Álvarez’s dynamism—something that was at times absent from Barça’s attack in the first half without the injured Raphinha. Marcus Rashford, starting on the left in Raphinha’s absence, thrives with the ball at his feet, and Lewandowski is precise in the box, but neither provides the same energy as the Argentine. In the fifth minute, the former Manchester City player had already issued a warning to Barça, skillfully maneuvering in from the touchline before forcing a save from Joan García.

At the other end, Barça was generating opportunities in what was the second of three encounters between these two teams within 11 days. The Catalan side won the first match in LaLiga on Saturday, but after losing the second, they will require a significant victory in the third to keep their hopes of winning the Champions League for the first time since 2015 alive.

Rashford had early opportunities, twice thwarted by Juan Musso—the second of which he could have capitalized on more effectively—but Lewandowski struggled to make an impact. There were flashes of brilliance from Lamine Yamal, but most occurred in areas that Atlético would not have deemed particularly threatening.

The initial 20 minutes passed quickly. Ademola Lookman also had a shot deflected over for Atlético, while João Cancelo and Rashford, once more, had chances for Barça. When Rashford finally found the net, the flag was raised for offside against Yamal in the buildup.

Musso made another save from Rashford, who concluded the 90 minutes with a game-high seven shots, as a sense of unease began to settle in Camp Nou. This was partly due to the absence of an opening goal and partly due to a growing frustration with the officiating.

Atlético captain Koke was eventually cautioned, but he could have received two additional yellow cards for fouls on Pedri and Yamal, which frustrated the Barça supporters who then witnessed the match slip away from them just before half-time as Cubarsí received his second career red card—his first also occurred in a Champions League knockout match, against Benfica last year. Álvarez completed the scoring.

Barça coach Hansi Flick made adjustments at the break. Gavi and Fermín López replaced the largely ineffective Lewandowski and the not fully fit Pedri. These substitutions injected some energy. Rashford struck the side netting and then had a free kick tipped over by Musso.

The discontent from the home fans intensified when they felt they should have been awarded a penalty. Musso appeared to take a goal kick, with defender Marc Pubill then placing his hand on the ball and passing it back. Barça were incensed, appealing for handball, but there was no VAR intervention.

“I don’t know what happens in the situation when the goalkeeper starts the game, the defender stops the ball with his hand and then plays again,” Flick remarked afterward. “For me, it’s a clear red card, well [a second] yellow [for Pubill] and penalty. [The refereeing team] can explain why it’s not.”

Any hopes of salvaging something from this match vanished when Atlético scored their second in the 70th minute. Matteo Ruggeri found space on the left, and his cross was converted by Sørloth for a goal that could prove crucial next week.

Still, Musso had more work to do. He saved from Cancelo and Yamal as Barça finished the match with 18 shots compared to Atlético’s five, despite having played more than half the game with one less player.

“With one player less we [gave] everything, today we were not lucky,” Flick stated. “We will fight. It’s not done yet. The semifinal may seem distant, but we have a chance and we will try.”

Everything will be determined next week in Madrid. “Yes we can,” chanted Barça’s supporters as the players stood before them at full-time. Approximately 20 minutes later, however, only the Atlético fans could be heard, still waiting to leave the stadium. Álvarez ensured this was a memorable night for them.