Barcelona 2 Atletico Madrid 1
Torres was the star of the first half with a goal and a red card.
He scored in 25 minutes and got his second yellow card in 35.
Koke made football look simple with a straight ball into an inviting space that the panicking Pique had just vacated by charging at him.
The compact Koke can play one and two-touch football and his second touch was a pass that Torres ran onto and, from 12 yards, drilled his shot between the legs of keeper Ter Stegen.
When you’re defending the Champions League crown, this is the wrong way to start the first leg of a quarter final at home, especially as Neymar had wasted a golden chance by heading over the bar,
It was still 1-0 to the 10 men at half-time.
The equaliser was an untidy goal. When Dani Alves crossed from the right, Jordi Alba miskicked a volley that was going wide. But Suarez, a reflex player, nudged the ball in for 1-1 in 63 minutes.
When Alves crossed to the near post in 74, Suarez raced in to place a rocket header past keeper Oblak.
So 11 men beat 10 men by 2-1.
Suarez has scored 45 goals this season. Yes, 45 goals by April.
It was always likely to be tight and rough because this was a massive game between two teams who know each other too well.
BUT IT’S NOT OVER.
Except for Torres. He’ll be watching the second leg and that’s much harder than playing.
In the other first leg, an Arturo Vidal header from six yards put Bayern Munich 1-0 up against Benfica after two minutes.
Surprising, Bayern could not add to that goal in the next 88 minutes.
Verdict: 3 of last night’s goals came from crosses. And two from headers. No club has ever retained the Champions League and Barcelona have not been at their fast, fluent best in their last two games.
However, my money is still on Luis Suarez.
What a determined gladiator, what a dynamo.!!! The bigger the game, the better he is. He delivers. Just ask England about him. Ask Stevie G.
Tonight’s PSG game is one where I fear for Manchester City.
Neither club has ever reached a CL semi.
Let’s hope Joe Hart and Aguero can keep Citeh in the tie.