Champions League: Setback for Flicks Barcelona

Hansi Flick and FC Barcelona are threatened with elimination in the Champions League, and Liverpool FC with Florian Wirtz are also in the quarter-finals after their next setback.

FC Barcelona lost 0-2 (0-1) in their own stadium against Atletico Madrid and needs a comeback in the second leg next Tuesday in order to make it to the semi-finals. Immediately before the break, Pau Cubarsí (44th) was shown the red card after an emergency stop, and Julián Álvarez (45th) brilliantly took the free kick from the edge of the penalty area to take the lead. Alexander Sörloth increased the number in the 70th minute.

Coach Flick’s team dominated the initial phase. Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal came dangerously close to goal, and in the 18th minute Barcelona celebrated their supposed lead. But Rashford was offside when Yamal passed the ball. Shortly afterwards, the Englishman was denied by Atletico’s goalkeeper Juan Musso (30′).

Then came the shock for Barcelona: Álvarez passed the ball to Giuliano Simeone, who was brought down by Cubarsí. Referee Istvan Kovacs initially showed yellow, reversed his decision after viewing the video images and sent the central defender off the pitch. After the break, Flick’s team pushed for an equalizer for a long time, but Sörloth finally made everything clear for Atlético.

Liverpool came under heavy pressure even with a defensive five-man chain

Liverpool FC around Florian Wirtz also has to worry about reaching the semi-finals. The Reds of ailing coach Arne Slot deservedly lost 0:2 (0:1) to Paris Saint-Germain.

A deflected shot from Désiré Doué gave Paris the lead in the 11th minute of the game. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (65th) increased the score after the break for the superior French, who would face the winner of the duel between FC Bayern and Real Madrid (first leg 2-1) if they progressed.

Slot, who is under increasing pressure after the painful 4-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup, put striker Mohamed Salah on the bench. Even with a defensive five-man chain, Liverpool quickly came under pressure and had problems with the lively PSG offensive stars around world footballer Ousmane Dembélé.

After the change, Paris remained dangerous, Dembélé initially missed the great opportunity to score the second goal (53′), but it ended up falling. Last season, Liverpool failed in the round of 16 against Paris.