Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona: Winners and Losers from Copa del Rey Game

Barcelona clinched a spot in the Copa del Rey semifinals with a 3-2 win in the second leg of their quarterfinal clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. 

The first half of the match at the Vicente Calderon Stadium was a terrific display of attacking football in which some of the brightest stars on the pitch scored five goals. 

After the brilliant 45 minutes of play, the match turned sour when an ill-timed mistake forced Atletico Madrid to play with 10 men for the entire second half. Midfielder Gabi was sent off during the half for an altercation in the tunnel. 

Atletico ended the match with nine players after Mario Suarez picked up his second caution in the 84th minute. 

Here's a look at the winners and losers from the chaotic Copa del Rey clash in Madrid. 

Winner: Neymar

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

Neymar found the back of the net on two occasions during the chaotic first half. 

The Brazilian netted an equalizer in the ninth minute, as he finished off a splendid attacking move started by Lionel Messi and continued by Luis Suarez. 

In the 41st minute, Neymar scored the final goal of the match on a tap-in after a terrific effort by Jordi Alba to keep the counter alive. 

In a match where the referee took many things away from the two sides, Neymar took business into his own hands to give Barcelona a comfortable lead on aggregate. 

Loser: Gabi

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

When the teams emerged from the tunnel to start the second half, Gabi was mysteriously missing from the Atletico Madrid lineup.

As the whistle blew, word came from the bench that the referees sent off the midfielder for an incident in the tunnel after the first half concluded. 

Gabi told reporters after the match that he only made a comment toward the referee in the tunnel, saying: "It was a penalty and a red card [for Alba]. Nothing else, but he sent me off.”

Down a man and a goal, Atletico packed no punch against a dominant Barcelona side, which was content to keep possession in the second half. 

If the hosts had been able to play with 11 men for all 90 minutes, we may have been talking about a thrilling half with plenty of goals as well. 

Winner: Jordi Alba

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

In a span of 60 seconds, Jordi Alba went from conceding a potential penalty to setting up the third Barcelona goal. 

The left-back was at the center of a handball controversy in the 40th minute, as Antoine Griezmann's shot struck his arm. Although it appeared that Alba's hand was away from his body, the referee decided not to whistle for a penalty. 

After the non-call, Alba sprinted down the left wing and connected with a Lionel Messi pass. When he got his boot on the ball, the 25-year-old found Neymar in the middle of the penalty area. 

Thanks to the Spaniard's hustle on the counter, Neymar calmly tapped the ball into the back of the net and handed Barcelona a lead before half-time. 

Loser: Javier Mascherano

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Javier Mascherano helped create two goals Wednesday night in Madrid. But unfortunately for him, he set up both Atletico strikes. 

In the first minute, Guilherme Siqueira intercepted Mascherano's errant pass across the pitch from left to right. Moments after his costly giveaway, Fernando Torres was celebrating his side's first goal of the match. 

Things went from bad to worse for the centre-back in the 29th minute, when he was whistled for a penalty. The call turned out to be the wrong one, as the Argentinian's feet were outside of the box when he obstructed Juanfran. 

After the debate between the referee and the Barcelona players regarding the bad call, Raul Garcia slotted home the second Atletico goal from the spot. 

Although much of the focus will be centered around the penalty call, it is worth mentioning the defender's awful cross, which handed Atletico plenty of momentum early in the match. 

If he attempts a cross like that in other big games this season, Luis Enrique may not rely on him to anchor the back line. 

Winner: Fernando Torres

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Before all hell broke loose in Madrid, Fernando Torres opened the scoring with a terrific first-minute strike. 

The Spanish forward cut around a defender and fired his shot off the left post and into the back of the net to put Atleti ahead. 

The goal marked the third consecutive half in which Torres scored in the first minute in the competition. He previously scored in the first and 46th minutes in the second leg of the round-of-16 clash against Real Madrid. 

With three goals in the Copa del Rey since moving back to Atletico Madrid, Torres has proved that he is capable of becoming a threatening player in front of goal once again. 

Loser: Arda Turan

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

In a match where his team needed his experience to power through a difficult second half, Arda Turan decided to act like a five-year-old and throw his shoe at the assistant referee.

The unnecessary act by the Turkish midfielder was not an offense worthy of a sending off because it did not make direct contact with the official on the right side of the pitch. 

Turan did earn a yellow card and was removed from the match 15 minutes later by way of a substitution. 

Instead of attempting to inspire his side to a historic comeback in a thrilling match, Turan opted to take out his frustration in the wrong way, which led to everyone talking about him for all the wrong reasons after the match. 

On top of all that, Turan will surely be facing some time of suspension for his antics, which will cost Atletico in their hunt for the La Liga title. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.