Champions League – Pau Cuvarsi receives red card as Barcelona lose 0-2 to Atletico Madrid

In another key match of the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, Barcelona, playing at the Camp Nou, lost 0-2 to Atletico Madrid after Pau Cuvarsi was shown a red card and a goal was conceded.

Two minutes into the match, Barcelona created an attacking opportunity. Pedri passed the ball diagonally to Rashford on the left wing, who unleashed a long-range shot, but the angle was too straight and the ball was caught by Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Juan Musso. In the 4th minute, Yamal intercepted the ball and passed it directly into the penalty area, where Rashford's shot was blocked by Juan Musso.

In the 5th minute, Atletico Madrid attempted a counter-attack. Alvarez received the ball and entered the penalty area, firing a low shot, but the ball was caught by Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia. In the 7th minute, Lookman received a pass from Alvarez and shot from the penalty area, but the ball was cleared. In the 14th minute, Eric Garcia delivered a cross from the right wing, and Rashford's volley went wide.

In the 17th minute, Yamal received the ball and passed it across the face of goal, where Rashford fired a low shot into the net. However, Yamal was offside, so the goal was disallowed. In the 29th minute, Olmo passed the ball diagonally, and Rashford received it and shot, but the ball was caught by Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Juan Musso.

In the 33rd minute, Atletico Madrid defender David Hantzko suffered an injury and was subsequently replaced by Marc Puvilli. In the 44th minute, Alvarez chipped the ball to Giuliano Simeone, but he was brought down by Pau Cuvarsi as he received the ball. After VAR intervention, the referee showed Cuvarsi a red card, and Barcelona had to continue with 10 players.

In the 45th minute, Atletico Madrid won a free kick, and Alvarez took it with a long-range shot, giving Atletico Madrid a 1-0 lead.

At the start of the second half, Barcelona substituted Fermín and Gavi for Lewandowski and Pedri. In the 50th minute, Yamal launched a long pass, and Rashford followed up with a shot into the penalty area, but the ball hit the side netting. In the 52nd minute, Rashford took a free kick, but his shot was saved by Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Juan Musso.

In the 58th minute, Barcelona attacked from a corner kick. Gavi headed the ball across, but neither Koundé nor Olmo could create a shooting opportunity. In the 70th minute, Griezmann orchestrated an attack. Matteo Ruggeri chipped the ball into the penalty area from the left, and Selotte finished with a shot to extend Atlético Madrid's lead to 2-0.

In the 74th minute, Yamal took a corner kick, and Araujo's header went wide. In the 78th minute, Cancelo won possession, dribbled past a defender, and fired a low shot, but it was cleared by Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Juan Musso. In stoppage time of the second half, Olmo received a pass from Araujo and shot from inside the penalty area, but the ball went over the goal.

Ultimately, Barcelona lost 0-2 to Atletico Madrid at home.

Image source: Internet