Barcelona have one foot out of the UEFA Champions League after losing 2-0 to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, an unraveling set in motion by Pau Cubarsi’s first-half red card and Julian Alvarez’s sublime free kick.
MORE — Champions League schedule, bracket
It was almost all Barcelona for the first 40 minutes, but the Blaugrana too often couldn’t connect the final pass (or stay onside when they did). The next five minutes decided the game and perhaps the tie. Pau Cubarsi clipped Giuliano Simeone as the winger ran past him and in on goal in the 41st minute, resulting in the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and Cubarsi being sent off (after video review).
Alvarez stepped up to take the ensuing free kick and uncorked a high-arcing beauty over Barcelona’s wall and under the crossbar where goalkeeper Joan Garcia had no chance of getting to it. Atleti looked to essentially shut up shop and take their 1-0 lead back to Madrid and protect it like the plan is to always win 1-0. They had just one shot in the second half, but sometimes that’s all it takes — that, and a good cross. Matteo Ruggeri provided the cross and Alexander Sorloth applied the finish in the 70th.
Atleti will host the second leg next Tuesday (3 pm ET).
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid live updates - by Andy Edwards
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid final score: 0-2
Goalscorers: Julian Alvarez (45'), Alexander Sorloth (70')
GOAL! Barcelona 0-2 Atleti: Sorloth hooks home Ruggeri’s cross to the near post (70')
Alexander Sørloth SILENCES Camp Nou within 10 minutes of coming on 🔥
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 8, 2026
Atlético Madrid extend their lead over Barcelona 💥 pic.twitter.com/7t6cU9kV2A
GOAL! Barcelona 0-1 Atleti: Alvarez scores a beauty from the ensuing free kick (45')
Absolute brilliance from Julián Álvarez 😮💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/SeyR3AjDrg
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 8, 2026
The Camp Nou crowd has been stunned into silence at what has just transpired. In the span of 120 seconds, referee Istvan Kovacs has raised his red card in the air and Julian Alvarez has scored an incredible goal. Barca were in control and the better side for 40-plus minutes, and they have nothing to show for it as the sides head to halftime.
RED CARD! Pau Cubarsi sent off for DOGSO on Simeone (44')
BARCELONA DOWN TO 10 🚨
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 8, 2026
Pau Cubarsí sees red for just the second time in his career 🟥 pic.twitter.com/iYVu7ldjfq
Barcelona will play more than 45 minutes with only 10 men.
NO GOAL! Lamine Yamal narrowly offside before finding Rashford with a cross (18')
Both sides have had a few forays forward, but only Barca have managed to put the ball in the back of the net thus far — even if it didn’t count, barely.
Barcelona starting XI
J. Garcia - Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Cancelo - E. Garcia, Pedri, Olmo - Yamal, Rashford, Lewandowski
Atletico Madrid starting XI
Musso - Molina, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri - Koke, Llorente, Simeone, Lookman - Griezmann, Alvarez
How to watch Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Wednesday (April 8)
Venue: Camp Nou — Barcelona, Spain
TV Channel/Streaming: Paramount+
The Blaugrana ran rampant over Newcastle in the round of 16, bouncing the Premier League side 8-3 on aggregate, now they’re set to face a far more familiar (and rigid) foe with the first leg at Camp Nou on Wednesday. This could also be Diego Simeone’s swan song at Atletico Madrid, after nearly 15 years in charge and five major trophies with (to go with a pair of Champions League runners-up finishes).
Barcelona team news, focus
OUT: Raphinha (hamstring), Frenkie de Jong (thigh), Andreas Christensen (knee), Toni Fernandez, Jofre Torrents (calf) | QUESTIONABLE: Marc Bernal (thigh)
Atletico Madrid team news, focus
OUT: Pablo Barrios (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Johnny Cardoso (undisclosed), Jose Gimenez (undisclosed)
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid prediction
This game won’t be as open as open as what Barca experienced in the second leg against Newcastle, and they might just find themselves with some work to do in the second leg. Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid.
