Atletico Madrid hosts FC Barcelona this Tuesday for the decisive second leg of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Stick with us for live, minute-by-minute coverage of what promises to be a high-stakes showdown in the Spanish capital.
The Colchoneros look to defend a hard-fought 2-0 advantage earned in the first leg, where they capitalized on a 10-man Barcelona side following Pau Cubarsi’s red card. A stunning free kick from Julian Alvarez and a clinical finish by Alexander Sorloth have left the Blaugrana needing a legendary comeback to punch their ticket to the semifinals.
Barcelona enters the night buoyed by a dominant 4-1 thrashing of Espanyol, exactly the kind of scoreline that would see them through tonight. Meanwhile, Atletico is coming off a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla, though manager Diego Simeone rested the bulk of his starters to ensure his squad hits the pitch tonight at peak fitness.
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70' – Game stopped due to injury (1-2)
Gavi unintentionally elbowed Matteo Ruggeri, and the game has been stopped for the defender to receive treatment for a cut above his eyebrow.
68' – Double substitution in Barcelona (1-2)
Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres are replaced, leaving their place on the pitch to Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski.
66' – Double substitution for Atletico Madrid (1-2)
Nico Gonzalez and Alex Baena enter the pitch replacing Ademola Lookman and Giuliano Simeone.
65' – Olmo misses a clear chance! (1-2)
Stacking up to five Atletico players, Yamal played the ball back to Dani Olmo, who missed the goal entirely.
61' – Olmo's shot gets blocked (1-2)
Recovering the ball up high, Dani Olmo tried his luck from outside the box, but Le Normand made a great block to deflect the ball to the corner.
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56' – Barcelona goal ruled out! (1-2)
After a series of rebounds, Le Normand made a great block on Gavi, but Ferran Torres found the loose ball and scored. However, the goal was disallowed as the striker was in an offside position.
53' – Lookman's shot whistles wide (1-2)
After a great run from Alvarez, the Argentine laid the ball back for Lookman, who unleashed a powerful strike that finished just inches wide of Garcia's goal.
50' – Game resumes after Eric Garcia is assessed (1-2)
After falling on his back while contesting an aerial ball, Eric Garcia has returned to the pitch and play has resumed.
Second half underway!
Referee Clement Turpin blows the whistle, and the second half is underway!
Halftime (1-2)
FC Barcelona hold a 2-1 lead at the half, but Atletico Madrid remain in position to advance on aggregate.
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45' – Four more minutes (1-2)
Four minutes of stoppage time have been added.
41' – Musso saves again (1-2)
Ferran controlled the ball moving forward once again after a great pass from Yamal, but Musso came off his line quickly to block the shot.
37' – Barcelona staggered after Atletico's goal (1-2)
Following Lookman's goal, Barcelona has taken a visible morale hit, struggling to move the ball with the same quickness and flow seen in the opening minutes of the match.
31' – GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAL FOR ATLETICO MADRID!! (1-2)
From a great cross by Marcos Llorente on the right side, Lookman struck the ball first time to make it 1-2, currently giving Atletico Madrid the lead on aggregate.
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30' – Another save by Musso (0-2)
After Yamal's cross, Griezmann deflected the ball, but Musso avoided an own goal with a good save.
Dani Olmo played a great through ball to Ferran Torres, who controlled the ball and moved past Lenglet to score the second goal of the game.
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22' – Clear chance for Atletico! (0-1)
After a great movement leaving Kounde on the floor, Lookman delivered a cross for Griezmann who saw his shot blocked by Gerard Martin, though the referee's call was a goal kick.
20' – Backline of six defenders for Atletico (0-1)
Defending in a 4-4-2, Atletico Madrid are neutralizing Barcelona's runs, at times dropping deep to form a defensive backline of six defenders.
15' – The ball, far from finding an owner (0-1)
Both teams have struggled to produce another clear chance, as the ball lacks a definitive owner with possession split evenly between the sides.
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9' – Another chance for Barcelona! (0-1)
After a great one-touch pass from Yamal, Dani Olmo was left one-on-one, but Musso won the duel against the Spaniard midfielder.
8' – Lookman misses a clear chance! (0-1)
After a long throw-in from Simeone, Alvarez controlled the ball for Lookman, who unleashed a strike that flew wide of the goal.
Yamal took the first chance for Barcelona, with keeper Musso completing the firs save of the game.
Kickoff!
Referee Clement Turpin blows his whistle, and the game between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona is underway.
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Who is the referee for Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona?
Clement Turpin will take charge of the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinal between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. The 44-year-old Frenchman has officiated six Atletico Madrid games in the competition, with a balanced record of two wins, two draws, and two defeats, while his record with the Blaugrana remains nearly perfect with two wins and one draw in three encounters.
Match officials:
Referee: Clement Turpin 1st Assistant: Nicolas Danos 2nd Assistant: Benjamin Pages Fourth Official: Mathieu Vernice VAR: Jerome Brisard VAR assistant: Willy Delajod
Barcelona and a record to believe in the comeback against Atletico Madrid
While overturning a 2-0 result at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano seems like an almost impossible task, Barcelona still has a reason to believe in the comeback. Here is the record that gives them hope against Atletico Madrid.
This is only the twelfth time that Barca has lost a Champions League (or European Cup) first leg by two goals or more. In an impressive five of those instances, the Catalans produced a comeback in the second leg and went on to qualify regardless.
However, all five of those comebacks happened in their own stadium. They have never achieved this feat away from home, meaning today could be the first time.
Lewandowski to start on the bench with eecord in sight
Despite ranking as the third-highest scorer in Champions League history, Robert Lewandowski will begin tonight’s clash on the sidelines. Manager Hansi Flick opted to keep the veteran striker on the bench, a move largely seen as a response to his underwhelming performance in the first leg.
After resting most of the players last game against Sevilla, coach Diego Simeone confirmed Atletico's starting lineup (4-4-2): Juan Musso; Nahuel Molina, Robin Le Normand, Clement Lenglet, Matteo Ruggeri; Giuliano Simeone, Koke, Marcos Llorente, Ademola Lookman; Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez.
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Barcelona's starting XI confirmed!
Coach Hansi Flick has confirmed the eleven players that'll be looking for the epic comeback against Atletico Madrid (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Gerard Martin, Joao Cancelo; Gavi, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez; Ferran Torres.
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Kickoff time and how to watch
The game between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona will kick off at 3 PM (ET).
Atletico Madrid host FC Barcelona in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals
Welcome to our live blog for the second leg of the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals between Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona. Stay with us for key updates and live minute-by-minute coverage!
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