Unrewarded effort
Suárez and Messi put Barcelona ahead in the first half and Griezmann pulled one back in a great second half of our team, which deserved more goals.
ATLÉTICO 1 – 2 BARCELONA
Atlético de Madrid: Moyá; Vrsaljko (Fernando Torres, 46’), Savic, Godín, Filipe Luis; Juanfran, Gabi, Saúl (Nico Gaitán, 59’), Koke; Carrasco (Gameiro, 69’) and Griezmann.
Barcelona: Cillessen; Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Jordi Alba; Mascherano, Rakitic (Denis Suárez, 57’), André Gomes (Rafinha, 72’); Messi, Neymar and Suárez.
Referee: De Burgos Bengoetxea (Basque Committee). Booked the home players Saúl (31’), Savic (39’), Griezmann (75’), Gabi (84’) and Juanfran (91’); and the visiting Neymar (64’), Messi (90’) and Mascherano (91’).
GOALS:
0-1. 7’. Luis Suárez crosses as Moyá exits the goal.
0-2. 33’. Messi finishes and the ball enters after hitting the post.
1-2. 59’. Griezmann scores with a header after a foul kicked by Gabi and passed by Godín with a header.
The Camp Nou will have the last word next Tuesday. Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid offered a first leg match of the semi-finals with tension, good football, goals and chances. The 1-2 result leaves an open qualifying round, although with an advantage for FC Barcelona.
After a first half that ended with a win for Barcelona by 0-2, our players gave their best to try to come back. And the truth is that Griezmann's goal a quarter of an hour into the second half and the good game of the team invited the red and white fans – that practically filled the Calderón- to be optimistic. Chances followed one after the other and Griezmann was close to scoring three times and Torres twice, for the one chance from Filipe and Gameiro, but the scoreboard did not move.