Barcelona and Bayern take one-goal first-leg leads

Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Nou Camp, where Fernando Torres was sent off having given the visitors the lead.

Torres fired Atletico ahead midway through the first half, but was then shown a second yellow card following a needless foul on Sergio Busquets.

Barcelona, who had seen their long unbeaten record ended following a late defeat at home by 10-man Real Madrid in El Classico on Saturday, rallied in the second half.

Suarez – perhaps fortunate not to be sent off for kicking out at Juanfran which was not spotted by the officals, netted a brace to put Luis Enrique’s side in charge of the tie ahead of the second leg at Vicente Calderon on April 13.

Bayern Munich will take a slender 1-0 lead to Portugal after an organised defensive display from Benfica at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Arturo Vidal’s second-minute goal was all that separated the two teams on an evening when Bayern were unusually subdued for long periods and struggled to break down their opponents, who grew into the game as it went on.

Pep Guardiola hailed Benfica’s defensive unit as Europe’s best in the build up to the game. While that was not evident early on as Bayern scored with their first attack, the claim held water for much of the contest as the likes of Thomas Muller, Franck Ribery, Robert Lewandowski and Douglas Costa were largely kept quiet.

The visitors will be disappointed with the goal they conceded, though.

One switch of play caught out the entire Benfica back line and after Ribery and Lewandowski exchanged passes, Juan Bernat curled in a cross and Vidal had timed his run into the box perfectly to head past Ederson.

Neither side was able to build on promising situations, and so the Germans will take a one-goal advantage to Portugal in the second leg next Wednesday.