FC Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid : Five Things We Learned

2 of 6

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 05: Fernando Torres of Atletico Madrid (9) is shown a red card by referee Felix Brych and is sent off during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between FC Barcelona and Club Atletico de Madrid at Camp Nou on April 5, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) /

5. Fernando Torres lost the plot

Fernando Torres had an absolute great start to the game and then somehow threw it all away when he got sent off. All of this happened within about 35 minutes from the start of the game. Amazing to say the least. Torres opened the scoring for Atletico with a great goal 25 minutes in. It gave Atletico the lead and gave them a precious away goal.

He beat Marc-André ter Stegen through his legs, a shot the German keeper should have saved. But nevertheless, Atletico led and it was all thanks to Torres. He kept up his great scoring record against Barcelona as he has scored 11 in 15 games against the Catalans. It was his second straight tie that he scored against Barcelona as he scored against the Catalans in the Copa Del Rey last year.

But then he threw it all away. Torres had already picked up a yellow card for a foul. He was on thin ice and with a referee that wasn’t scared of giving out cards, someone was bound to get sent off in this game. It turned out to be Torres. Barcelona were just passing around the back and the ball came to Sergio Busquets, who Torres was marking.

Busquets passed back and Torres lunged in late and hit the back of Busquets’s leg. The ref reached to his pocket and gave Torres a second yellow. Against a team like Barcelona, playing against them with 11 men is tough. 10 men is even harder and Torres has to be smarter.

Next: 4. Atletico's Gameplan

Home/Champions League