Atlético Madrid took the lead at the Camp Nou but two Luis Suárez goals have given Barcelona the edge as they travel to the second leg at the Vicente Calderón.
Atlético are looking to repeat their 2014 Uefa Champions League quarterfinal win against FC Barcelona when the teams meet for the second leg at the Vicente Calderón.
Diego Simeone’s side must come from behind, however, having gone down 2-1 at the Camp Nou despite taking the lead through Fernando Torres. Torres was sent off before halftime and two Luis Suárez goals gave holders Barcelona their seventh successive win against Atlético.
Atlético
This is the third season running that Atlético have reached the Uefa Champions League quarterfinals – and they have faced Spanish opposition on each occasion.
Having got the better of Barcelona in 2014, Atlético lost out to neighbours Real Madrid CF in the last eight 12 months ago, Madrid’s Javier Hernández scoring the only goal of the tie with two minutes left of the second leg at the Santiago Bernábeu.
Madrid had also got the better of Atlético in the 2014 final, running out 4-1 winners after extra time in Lisbon.
Atlético have hosted Barcelona 109 times before in all competitions with a record of 50 home wins, 36 Barcelona victories and 23 draws.
The Rojiblancos are in the quarterfinals of the European Cup for the eighth time and are seeking a fifth place in the semifinals. Naijabet
Barcelona
In the quarterfinals for a record ninth season in a row, Barcelona have won two and drawn two of their away games in this season’s competition. They were 2-0 victors at Arsenal FC in the round of 16 first leg, going on to win 5-1 overall.
Barcelona’s European Cup quarterfinal record is W14 L3.
Barcelona have already got the better of Spanish opposition in European competition this season,defeating Sevilla FC 5-4 to win the Uefa Super Cup in Tbilisi in August.
Barcelona’s sole away win against Spanish opposition came at Real Madrid in the 2010/11 semifinal first leg, Lionel Messi scoring twice in the final 14 minutes for a 2-0 victory.
In two-legged ties against fellow Liga sides, Barcelona’s record is W4 L6.
Barcelona have won 38 of the 40 Uefa competition ties in which they won the first leg at home, most recently against FC Bayern München in last season’s semifinal (3-0 home, 2-3 away). Both defeats came against English clubs: in the 1983/84 European Cup Winners’ Cup quarterfinal against Manchester United FC (2-0 home, 0-3 away) and in the 1982 Uefa Super Cup against Aston Villa FC (1-0 home, 0-3 away).
