UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Q-FINALS: ATLETICO AND PSG TAKE FIRST-LEG CONTROL
By: Gyang Dakwo
UEFA Champions League quarter-final action delivered two strong statements as Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain secured important first-leg wins over Barcelona and Liverpool.
At the Spotify Camp Nou, Julian Alvarez inspired Atletico Madrid to a 2-0 win over Barcelona, and the result puts the Spanish side in a strong position ahead of the second leg.
The game turned before half-time when Alvarez produced a moment of quality, and his clever pass exposed the Barcelona defence, which led to a red card for Pau Cubarsi after he brought down the Atletico forward.
Barcelona tried to control the game even with ten men, but they struggled to break Atletico down. The visitors then sealed the win in the second half when substitute Alexander Sorloth finished from close range, and that second goal gave Diego Simeone his first win at the stadium while ending Barcelona’s long winning run at home.
In France, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Liverpool 2-0, and the result extended their strong record in knockout matches. The home side started well and took the lead early through Desire Doue, and that goal settled them into the match.
PSG continued to press, and they doubled their lead in the second half when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia found the net. Liverpool had a difficult night, and they almost conceded a third goal when the referee, Jose Maria Sanchez, awarded a penalty after a challenge involving Ibrahima Konate and Warren Zaire-Emery, but a VAR check overturned the decision.
The French side kept pushing, and Ousmane Dembele came close late on, but the score remained 2-0. Luis Enrique will be pleased with the result, while Arne Slot and his Liverpool team will now turn their focus to the return leg at Anfield, where they still have a chance to respond.
