Fernando Torres had an eventful outing against Barcelona in the first leg of Atletico Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final tie at the Nou Camp, scoring the opening goal of the match before being sent off.
Barcelona found themselves chasing the match at Camp Nou as Fernando Torres found the back of the net for Los Rojiblancos midway into the first half. However, the hero quickly turned into a villain as the former Chelsea striker was sent off shortly after the goal for his second yellow card. Barcelona clawed their way back into the game following the incident, scoring twice through Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez.
Following the match, Fernando Torres insisted that the match referee was not up to the standard of a Champions League quarter-final tie, while admitting that he felt partially responsible for the team’s defeat.
“It’s a shame that UEFA are so preoccupied with changing our kits and putting a referee that has failed to be at the level of a Champions League quarterfinal,” Torres said, according to goal.com.
Torres also claims it was one of the lowest points of his career. “This is one of the worst days of my life as a footballer,” said the former Liverpool striker.
“I am sad to have left the team with 10 [men].
“In a way I feel responsible for the team not winning. I am certain that with 11 it would have been totally different. But I am proud to play in this team. The result is not all bad. At the Calderon, anything is possible.”
Suarez proves to be master of the dark arts once again
Even after Torres was sent off, Barca initially struggled to penetrate a well drilled and tightly packed Atletico Madrid defence. As he has so often this season, Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez proved to be the difference maker for Barcelona, plundering two goals in the second half to give them a 2-1 victory.
However, Suarez indulged in foul play himself which went unpunished by the referee. He displayed his ruthless streak in the second half, shoving Brazilian left-back Filipe Luis aside in one incident and kicking out at Juanfran in another. The Barca forward managed to stay on the field despite these questionable actions however, once again prompting discussions regarding refereeing ineptitude in the Champions League.
