A sensational match occurred in Spain this evening, as Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid 3-2 at the Vicente Calderon- but the goals were only half of the story.
Fernando Torres opened the scoring within 39 seconds, before Neymar equalised. Atletico then pulled ahed thanks to a controversial penalty, with Miranda then levelling things up again on the night by diverting the ball into his own net.
Atletico then appealed for another penalty for a hand-ball, which wasn’t given, and Barcelona hit on the counter-attack and Neymar achieved his second of the night.
At half-time the madness continued with Gabi being sent off, believed to be because he insulted the referee, before Arda Turan threw his boot towards the linesman. It wasn’t other there as Mario Suarez was dismissed for a second-bookable offence late in the game.
If you thought that was crazy, it also emerged during the game that Atletico’s Ansaldi was spending the evening in a police station after slamming his car door on the hand of a policeman. Bizarre doesn’t quite cut it!
TORRES HAS SCORED WITHIN THE 1st MINUTE AGAIN!
— Footy Memes (@FootyMemes) January 28, 2015
Messi to Suarez, Suarez to Neymar, and Neymar to the back of the net. Goal Barcelona. That trio is unstoppable. — = (@Total_Futbol_) January 28, 2015
How the ref awarded Atletico that penalty is still beyond me.
— Bizzle Blanks (@BizzleBlanks) January 28, 2015
Oh, Miranda… that is diabolic defending. Atlético now need two more goals to progress through. Can’t see it happening. — Liam (@OffsideLiam) January 28, 2015
Atletico robbed there, his hands are up! clear cut penalty
— TomMellor (@MellorFootball) January 28, 2015
This is incredible!! Brilliant composure there again Neymar, one of his best traits. — Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) January 28, 2015
During halftime, Gabi was given a red card due to an incident in the players tunnel. Atletico are playing with 10 men against Barcelona.
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 28, 2015
A professional player throwing a boot at the linesman. Always said Arda Turan was dirty, but this is legendary. — Lucas Resende (@lucasammr) January 28, 2015
We’ve seen it all now. Arda Turan just took his boot off and threw it at the linesman. Lucky his aim was rubbish. #Atleti
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) January 28, 2015
Atlético feeds off Simeone’s passion, but as we’ve seen, that doesn’t always end pretty. Gabi and Arda Turan showing it today. — Liviu Bird (@liviubird) January 28, 2015
Mario Suarez getting himself sent off is probably a bigger advantage to Atleti than it is Barça.
— ️ (@TeamToDieFor) January 28, 2015
Atleti have lacked discipline all evening, they’ve gone too far tonight. Mario Suarez sent off for very poor challenge on Messi, down to 9.
— Harry De Cosemo (@harrydecosemo) January 28, 2015
So random: Ansaldi missed Atletico-Barcelona cause before game has hit with his car the hand of a cop;had no documents;now at police station
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) January 28, 2015