Goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth earned a 2-0 first-leg victory over 10-man Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

Barcelona dominated proceedings, but Atletico’s ⁠rock-solid defence combined with swift counter-attacks paid off.

This was after Pau Cubarsi was sent off for hauling down Giuliano Simeone in the 42nd minute as the last man.

Alvarez brilliantly curled the resulting free kick from 25 metres into ‌the ⁠top corner in first-half stoppage time to silence the sold-out Catalan stadium.

Rashford struck the crossbar from a free kick ⁠soon after halftime.

However, Simeone’s side remained disciplined and doubled their lead in the 70th ⁠minute when Mateo Ruggeri crossed from the left and Sorloth volleyed ⁠in from close range, sealing a decisive away win.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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Renan Lodi scored the only goal just before half-time as Diego Simeone’s side won 2-1 on aggregate after a late draw in the first leg last month.

Tuesday’s result means United’s trophy drought will now almost certainly stretch to five years, with Ralf Rangnick’s side already eliminated from the FA Cup and 20 points behind leaders Manchester City in the Premier League.

“I think we played a very good first half — exactly the way we wanted to play with a high energy level but we couldn’t convert that into one or two goals,” Rangnick said after the match.

“Conceding that counter-attacking goal just before halftime didn’t make life any easier. It was hard in the second half and always interrupted. There was always somebody lying on the floor.”

United named three changes from Saturday’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur, with Bruno Fernandes coming in to start and Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford dropping to the bench.

Teenage United forward Anthony Elanga, who turned hero to score a last-minute equaliser in the first-leg, went close to opening the scoring on Tuesday.

This was when his run toward the near post in the 12th minute was rewarded with a low cross from Fernandes, but he saw his shot stopped by goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

United goalkeeper David de Gea then produced an outstanding diving save to push wide a long range effort from Rodrigo De Paul.

Atletico had the ball in the back of the net midway through the first half when Joao Felix tapped in to an empty net at the back post, but Marcos Llorente, who supplied the assist, was ruled offside.

It was a typical display of the kind of gritty defending and swift counter-attacking for which Simeone’s side have been known.

United, for all their pressure, were unable to create enough quality opportunities to get themselves the goal they needed.

The visitors did eventually take the lead in the 41st minute through Lodi as he scored a jumping header at the back post following a floated cross from Antoine Griezmann.

The move came after Atletico won back possession from Elanga, who looked to have been fouled but saw protests waved away by referee Slavko Vincic.

On Vincic’s calls, Rangnick adeed: “I would also say some curious refereeing decisions. I wouldn’t say they were decisive but at least he fell too often for those time-wasting antics.”

United pushed for an equaliser in the second half but were unable to find a way back into the match, resulting in their sixth elimination in their past eight Champions League knockout ties.

“In the second half it was a brilliant collective effort from the team, one of the best this year,” Simeone said in a postmatch news conference.

“I’m happy, that’s why I celebrated it in the dressing room.”

Elsewhere in the Champions League also played on Tuesday, Darwin Nunez’s 80th minute goal proved enough as Benfica shocked hosts Ajax 1-0 (3-2 on aggregate) to progress to the last eight.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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Diego Simeone brought up Xavi’s past criticism of Atletico Madrid’s style of play in the build-up.

But the latter had the last laugh at Camp Nou as Barca replaced Los Colchoneros in fourth.

The visitors did enjoy a promising start with Yannick Carrasco’s well-worked opener eight minutes in, but Barca were soon ahead thanks to Jordi Alba’s excellent volley and a Gavi header.

Ronald Araujo increased Barca’s lead just before half-time and Dani Alves blasted in a fourth for his first goal since his return.

Luis Suarez pulled one back against his former club and Alves was dismissed, but Barca went on to claim a deserved win.

Atletico Madrid led in style as Suarez latched onto Koke’s excellent pass and fed Carrasco into the penalty box, with the Belgian sweeping his first-time finish into the bottom-left corner.

They were pegged back just two minutes later when Dani Alves crossed to the left.

Jordi Alba met it with a spectacular sliced volley that spun high into the far corner of the net.

Another Barca cross proved decisive soon after as the hosts went in front, with debutant Adama Traore seeing his pinpoint delivery nodded in by Gavi.

Araujo then made it 3-1 late in the half, smashing in from close range after Ferran Torres headed Alves’ free-kick onto the crossbar.

Alves became the fourth-oldest player to score in La Liga this century early in the second half, drilling home from Alba’s cut-back.

Barca were made to suffer as Suarez headed in and Alves was sent off for scraping his studs down Carrasco’s calf, but Atletico Madrid could not salvage a result.

Source: dpa/NAN

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Diego Simeone’s men were on course to grab all three points after going 2-1 ahead following substitute Matheus Cunha’s stunning 76th minute strike.

But for the second time on Thursday, Atletico Madrid surrendered their lead through a penalty kick, following a handball by Renan Lodi.

Enis Bardhi converted his second penalty kick of the game in the 90th minute to hand 19th-placed Levante a share of the points.

Antoine Griezmann scored his first league goal of the season with a header to give Atletico Madrid the lead in the 12th minute.

The result left Atletico Madrid in sixth place with 19 points from 10 games, five adrift of surprise leaders Real Sociedad.

Winless Levante chalked up their sixth draw of the season to move onto six points.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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“La Liga on Monday informed Atletico Madrid at 23:28 that representatives from Arsenal arrived at the footballing body’s headquarters looking to meet Thomas Partey’s release clause,” read a statement on Atletico Madrid’s website just before the midnight CET deadline.

“Thus, the player has unilaterally ended his work contract that he had signed with the club through to 30 June 2023.”

The deal is worth 50 million euros (45.37 million pounds).

Arsenal then announced the deal on social media at 23:15 local time.

Under La Liga rules all players must have a buyout clause in their contracts and any club wishing to activate it must deposit the full amount with the Spanish league.

The league organisers will then release the player’s registration before passing the fee onto the selling club.

Partey, 27, joined the Spanish side’s youth academy in 2012 and has gone on to establish himself as an integral part of Diego Simeone’s side since making his debut in 2015.

In a separate deal, Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreria has joined Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan deal.

Also, out-of-favour Frenchman Matteo Guendouzi left the Emirates Stadium for Hertha Berlin on loan.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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