Atletico Madrid dan Barcelona Jaga Rivalitas di Liga Champions
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona Renew Rivalry in Champions League
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
Madrid (B2B) - Atletico Madrid berbagi gol 1-1 dengan Barcelona dalam laga leg pertama perempatfinal Liga Champions di Camp Nou, Selasa malam (Rabu dinihari WIB).
Bertandang ke kandang Barcelona, Atletico memulai dengan langsung menekan dan mengejutkan kiper Pinto melalui tembakan Villa pada menit-menit awal.
Namun beberapa saat kemudian pada menit keenam, ancaman datang dari Barcelona setelah Gabi menjatuhkan Messi. Beruntung gawang Atletico masih selamat karena tendangan taktis Messi masih membentur mistar gawang, seperti dilansir Yahoo News.
Barcelona kemudian kian rajin membangun serangan dan sejumlah upaya berbahaya melalui Neymar membuat barisan belakang Atletico bekerja ekstra.
Ketatnya pertandingan memaksa Barcelona harus melakukan pergantian pemain pada menit 12. Pique yang cedera setelah berduel dengan Diego Costa, ditarik keluar dan digantikan oleh Bartra.
Persis delapan belas menit selanjutnya, giliran Atletico harus merelakan Diego Costa meninggalkan lapangan. Costa kembali cedera dan digantikan oleh Diego.
Babak pertama berakhir tanpa dengan kedudukan tetap imbang 0-0.
Masuknya Diego rupanya baru membawa hasil bagi Atletico pada babak kedua. Pada menit 56 pemain pengganti itu melesakkan tembakan keras dari jarak jauh yang tidak bisa dibendung kiper Pinto, Atletico memimpin 1-0.
Keunggulan Atletico hanya berlangsung 15 menit saja karena Neymar dengan tendangan menyilang dari sisi kanan gawang Atletico mampu menyamakan kedudukan menjadi 1-1 pada menit 71.
Meski kedua tim berupaya terus berupaya menambah gol, pertandingan leg pertama perempat final itu berakhir dengan skor imbang 1-1.
Pada pertandingan lain, Manchester United juga bermain imbang dengan skor akhir serupa ketika menjamu Bayern Munchen di Old Trafford.
Madrid - Barcelona and Atletico Madrid´s chances of silverware have taken a hit after they lost key players to injury in Tuesday´s Champions League clash, with Barca centre back Gerard Pique damaging a hip and Atletico top scorer Diego Costa limping off with a hamstring strain.
Pique, whose Spain international team mate and goalkeeper Victor Valdes was ruled out for seven months this week after he tore knee ligaments, had to be replaced by Marc Bartra after only 12 minutes of the quarter-final first leg at the Nou Camp when he landed awkwardly after jumping for the ball.
Barca said Pique had damaged his right hip and would be out for around four weeks, meaning he will miss next Wednesday´s second leg in Madrid, the King´s Cup final against Real Madrid on April 16 and several La Liga games.
He may also have to sit out the two-legged Champions League semi-final at the end of the month if Barca qualify.
Costa, who had scored seven goals in five appearances in this season´s Champions League before Tuesday, and has 25 in 30 La Liga outings, pulled up clutching the back of his right leg with half an hour gone and was replaced by Diego.
The game ended 1-1 after goals from Atletico´s Diego and Barca´s Neymar.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone told a news conference Costa would need more tests to determine the extent of the injury and how long he would be out of action.
Raul Garcia, David Villa or Adrian were ready to stand in for the Spain international in the meantime, Simeone added.
Simeone´s Barca counterpart and Argentine compatriot Gerardo Martino was pleased with the way Bartra played after coming off the bench.
