3) Controversial sending off mars the match
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It was Filipe Luis on 30 January in the La Liga tie, Sergio Ramos in the weekend and Fernando Torres last night – visiting teams make their job in the daunting Camp Nou tougher by going a man down against a team that seems to be anyways playing with 13 men.
No, I was not talking about the referee, but Barcelona would on their day arguably beat any team in the world - and most days are their days.
Fernando Torres was sent off a few minutes after scoring Atletico’s opener, for two tackles on Neymar and Sergio Busquets. The striker was quick to criticise the referee Felix Brych, and accused him of not being of the standard required in such important fixtures, and wondered why Luis Suarez did not receive similar treatment.
Diego Simeone refused to blame his striker and drew comparisons with last season’s corresponding fixture against Real Madrid. In that match, Arda Turan was sent off by the same referee, which was followed by Javier Hernandez scoring the only goal in the two legs to send Real through.
Luis Enrique though was focused on his team’s inability to score more goals and backed the referee, saying that it was normal for all of Atletico’s fans to criticise the red, and for Barcelona’s fans to see the logic in why Torres was sent off.
