After drawing the hardest opponent left in the competition, Barcelona were bracing themselves for a typical tough night at the Vicente Calderón but the first half proved to be anything but. Atlético Madrid were choosing their moments of when to press and looked to identify Javier Mascherano as the man to close down.
Playing in Sergio Busquets’ usual position, it is no secret Mascherano’s passing is not that of the Spaniard’s but the area he excels in is nipping in and stealing the ball. It was through this that Barça got the opening goal of the tie.