Neymar fires but Diego thunderbolt hands Atletico the edge

Andy West 09:11 02/04/2014
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  • Rocket: Atletico star Diego lets fly to score the opener last night.

    Atletico Madrid established themselves as favourites to progress to the Champions League semi-finals by claiming a hard-fought 1-1 draw against a frustrated Barcelona.

    With an away goal under their belts, Diego Simeone’s men will be more than happy to back their chances of keeping a clean sheet in next week’s return leg at the Vicente Calderon, although their delight was significantly marred by a hamstring injury to star striker Diego Costa.

    It could have been even better for the visitors, who led through Diego Ribas’ wonder strike until Neymar gave disjointed Barca hope with a leveller.

    Atletico were impressive from the start and should have taken an early lead when Jose Manuel Pinto’s poor kick out fell straight to Arda Turan. The Turk then calmly picked out David Villa but the vastly experienced striker squandered the chance to score against his former club.

    The hosts first threatened when Lionel Messi rapidly swapped passes with Andres Iniesta and was brought down on the edge of the box, but his subsequent free-kick flew straight into the defensive wall.

    Cesc Fabregas had a long-range volley deflected wide as Barca started to settle, but their rhythm was disrupted when Gerard Pique limped off.

    That change seemed to unsettle Barca, and Atletico enjoyed a period of dominance with the home team’s defence looking jittery.

    Barca were only able to attack in fits and starts, creating a moderate chance when Xavi’s angled cross picked out Neymar, whose flicked header was easily saved by Thibaut Courtois.

    The Atletico goal was more seriously threatened when Messi did superbly to weave away from Miranda and thread a perfect pass into the stride of Iniesta, but his firm strike was brilliantly blocked by Diego Godin.

    The visitors then suffered amajor blow as leading scorer Costa suffered a hamstring injury.

    Barca promptly took over, and Messi’s header from a Dani Alves cross was gobbled up by Courtois before the subdued Neymar spluttered into life by cutting inside from the right to thrash a long-range effort over the top.

    Atletico responded, though, with Villa again coming close as he drifted inside to force a good save from Pinto with a curling low strike.

    The early stages of the second half were closely contested until visiting substitute Diego broke open the tie with an astonishing 30-yard strike, cutting inside from the right wing and unloading a right-footed missile that fizzed through the air before veering into the top right corner.

    Iniesta had a hopeful penalty appeal waved away before a laserlike strike from Sergio Busquets was pushed aside by Courtois as Barca attempted to respond.

    Atletico stood firm until a moment of inspiration from Iniesta, whose brilliant pass allowed Neymar to curl a firm low strike past Courtois.

    The game was transformed as Barca proceeded to tear into their visitors in search of a second goal. The magnificent Iniesta was their tormentor and he nearly scored with a long-range effort, but Courtois dived full stretch to save.

    Atletico barely featured as an attacking force in the closing stages, but their defence soaked up everything Barca had. And on the solitary occasion the hosts were able to get a clear shot on goal through Messi’s 22-yard free-kick, Courtois was once again the saviour with another heroic save to his right.

    Man of the match
    Andres Iniesta Barca still have a chance in this tie thanks to Iniesta, who was his team’s brightest spark all night. He created the equaliser with a magnificent pass, and nearly grabbed a winner with a long-range strike which Courtois saved superbly.

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