Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid: Score, Grades, Reaction from Copa del Rey Game
Lionel Messi scored the late winner as Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 on Wednesday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final.
Following a scoreless first half, Atletico seemed set to hold on for a creditable draw at the Nou Camp. But with seven minutes remaining, Sergio Busquets won a penalty that led to Barca's winner. Messi missed the spot-kick but slotted in the rebound in the 85th minute to give Barca a slim advantage heading into the second leg.
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Both sides will feel they have a chance in the second leg, which is scheduled for next Wednesday at Atletico's Estadio Vicente Calderon. The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to the semi-finals to play either Villarreal or Getafe.
Regardless of which side advances, the winner of this tie will likely be considered favourites to lift the cup at the end of the season. Atletico ousted rivals Real Madrid in the previous round, leaving Barca and themselves as the biggest clubs left in the competition.
First, though, both teams will turn their attention back to La Liga this weekend, as Barcelona play at Elche on Saturday, while Atletico host Rayo Vallecano.
Within moments of the first whistle, it became clear that this match would not resemble the wide-open encounter that saw Barca defeat Atletico 3-1 earlier this month. But while Atletico turned in a disciplined defensive performance, the hosts were still able to create chances.
In the fourth minute, Neymar cut inside along the edge of the box before curling a shot on target. The ball appeared destined for the far corner, but Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak stretched to tip it away to safety.
Messi had sight of a goal eight minutes later, blasting a shot over the bar from a tight angle on the right after receiving a pass from Ivan Rakitic.
Atletico's first shot on target came in the 27th minute, as Arda Turan drove a low effort straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who saved easily.
The visitors had a chance in the 35th minute, as Guilherme Siqueira picked out Antoine Griezmann with a cross, but Griezmann headed it over the bar.
Just one minute later, Barca created the best chance of the first half. Rakitic carved out the danger with a brilliant, flicked pass to Luis Suarez in the box. Suarez should have scored, but he missed the target from close range.
Atletico nearly unlocked Barcelona in the 39th minute as Fernando Torres led a counter down the centre of the pitch. Torres tried to free Griezmann with an angled pass, but the ball hit Gerard Pique's heel and the danger passed.
The game's dominant pattern resumed after half-time, Barcelona holding the majority of possession as Atletico provided stiff defensive resistance. Andres Iniesta had a shot blocked in the 60th minute following a cutback by Neymar. The veteran attacker tried his luck again 14 minutes later, but his low drive was saved comfortably by Oblak.
Frustration began to take its toll on Barcelona, with Suarez and Javier Mascherano drawing bookings for dissent within moments of each other. But just as a scoreless draw seemed inevitable, Barca drew a lifeline.
The match changed in the 83rd minute as the hosts won a penalty. Moments after Messi saw his low free-kick blocked, Busquets tried to turn inside the box but had his foot hooked out from under him. Atletico protested the call, but after a delay of more than a minute, Messi stepped up to take the penalty.
Oblak managed to save Messi's spot-kick, but the Argentine followed up and slotted in the rebound himself for the winner.
Barcelona came closest to scoring in the closing minutes, Messi sending another free-kick just over the bar in the second minute of stoppage time. The foul that led to the chance earned Diego Godin a yellow card, meaning Atletico will have to cope without their influential defender in the second leg.
Grades
| Marc-Andre ter Stegen | 6.9 |
| Dani Alves | 8.3 |
| Gerard Pique | 7.9 |
| Javier Mascherano | 7.1 |
| Jordi Alba | 7.2 |
| Ivan Rakitic | 6.9 |
| Sergio Busquets | 7.6 |
| Andres Iniesta | 7.5 |
| Lionel Messi | 8.6 |
| Luis Suarez | 5.9 |
| Neymar | 6.8 |
| Xavi (for Rakitic, 77') | 6.5 |
| Marc Bartra (for Iniesta, 88') | No rating |
| Jan Oblak | 7.6 |
| Juanfran | 6.5 |
| Miranda | 7.6 |
| Diego Godin | 7.2 |
| Guilherme Siqueira | 6.5 |
| Gabi | 6.1 |
| Mario Suarez | 7.0 |
| Arda Turan | 7.1 |
| Antoine Griezmann | 6.3 |
| Koke | 7.0 |
| Fernando Torres | 6.0 |
| Mario Mandzukic (for Torres, 46') | 6.1 |
| Raul Garcia (for Griezmann, 66') | 6.6 |
| Raul Jimenez (for Gabi, 87') | No rating |
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