Barcelona, Bayern Munich labour to slim victories in UEFA Champions League Q/Finals first leg

Adeyinka Akintunde, Lagos |6th Apr 2016 | 3,782
Barcelona, Bayern Munich labour to slim victories in UEFA Champions League Q/Finals first leg

Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona fought back to beat visiting 10-man Atletico Madrid Tuesday night at Camp Nou in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Atletico scored a potentially valuable away goal when Fernando Torres blasted in a clinical first-time shot. But Torres got sent off before half-time for two needless bookings inside seven minutes.

Defending Champions Barcelona upped the tempo after the break, Suarez prodding in the equaliser then powerfully heading in the winner.

The teams will meet again in the second leg at the Vicente Calderon next Wednesday.

In Munich, Arturo Vidal gave Bayern Munich a slender 1-0 against SL Benfica, heading to their Champions League quarterfinal return leg at Benfica next week Wednesday.

Franck Ribery crossed from the left and Juan Bernat, left alone by the Benfica defenders, found Vidal in space to nod comfortably past Ederson.

Benfica failed to cope with Vidal’s late runs from midfield as he again got on the end of a cross with halftime approaching, but the ball bounced harmlessly onto the roof of the net.

Vidal took a painful blow for the Bayern team just before the break when he blocked a shot from Benfica captain Nicolas Gaitan with his nether regions.

Bayern produced a poor display at Munich’s Allianz Arena and their fifth straight appearance in the Champions League semifinals is questionable. They were completely frustrated in the second half. As the game wore on, Benfica’s back four began to back up Guardiola’s compliment by frustrating Bayern’s attack, especially Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller.

There was pandemonium in the Bavarians’ penalty area on 65 minutes when only desperate defending denied Jonas, who got off three shots.

Bayern missed a chance of doubling their tally in the dying stages. Lewandowski got in behind the defence and drew Ederson, but his pass to an unmarked Philipp Lahm was too long, just a minute from the whistle.

•Photo shows Barcelona’s two-goal hero Luis Suarez.

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