IANS
MADRID, APRIL 6
FC Barcelona will take a slender 2-1 lead for their Champions League quarter-final second leg after two second half goals from Luis Suarez helped them beat 10-man Atletico Madrid.
An intense game between the two sides on Tuesday in the Spanish league was perhaps decided by Atletico striker Fernando Torres, who left the pitch with 55 minutes to play, Xinhua news agency reported.
Diego Simeone's side was able to recall Diego Godin and youngster Lucas, who replaced injured Stefan Savic, in the heart of the visitors' defence, while Barca named an unchanged starting 11 to that which lost to Real Madrid on Saturday.
It was clear from the start that Atletico had come to Barcelona to fight every inch of the way and although Barca went close through a Messi shot which went wide and a Neymar header which flashed over the bar, they were not finding space or time in midfield.
The home side were laying siege to the Atletico goal and Messi drew a full length save from Jan Oblak, before Suarez finally leveled the score on 62 minutes after diverting home Jordi Alba' s misplaced shot.
Suarez scored Barca's second 16 minutes from time with a brilliant header from Dani Alves' cross as Barca kept their foot on the accelerator, prompting Simeone to introduce Thomas Teye for Antoine Griezmann.
Rafinha came on for Barca for his first appearance since injuring his knee in six months as Barca looked to retain their pressure in the closing minutes.
Fernando Torres feels Barcelona were favoured by referee
Fernando Torres does not believe he should have been sent off against Barcelona and suggested a red card would not have been given had the offence been "the other way around".
Torres had put Atletico Madrid in front in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Nou Camp before seeing two quick-fire yellow cards to leave the visitors a man light for over an hour.
Barcelona went on to win 2-1 as Luis Suarez finally converted the hosts' relentless second-half pressure when he struck twice in 12 minutes.
However, Atletico were enraged as, unlike Torres, Suarez escaped punishment for an apparent kick out at Juanfran and an off-the-ball incident with Filipe Luis.
"They shouldn't have been cards. If it had been the other way around then they wouldn't have been given," Torres told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.
"With 11 [men] we would have won without any doubt."
And the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker claimed UEFA have their priorities wrong after making both sides play in their away kits to avoid a colour clash.
He added: "UEFA worry about making us change shirts, but they didn't appoint a referee that is up to the level of the Champions League quarter-finals."
Atletico's players' choice of words could prove costly should UEFA feel the need to impose bans on those that have launched attacks on German referee Felix Brych.
Coach Diego Simeone was more measured in his criticism and was happy to escape Catalonia with the tie still in the balance.
"There were more than two incidents involving Suarez," said Atletico boss Diego Simeone. "I can't say what I think, but I am not angry with Fernando [Torres] for sure."
"We had a great first-half, in the second we tried to limit the damage as much as possible for the game that is still to come."
Barca boss Luis Enrique was understandably less sympathetic towards Torres. "Both of Torres's two yellow cards are clear. They may have been unintentional, but they are clear."
