In The Zone: How clinical Atleti took their chances
Thursday, April 9, 2026
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UEFA Technical Observer Ole Gunnar Solskjær praises Atlético de Madrid’s efficiency in front of goal at Camp Nou last night.
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"Football's wonderful because efficiency is key. We've been extremely efficient." So said Diego Simeone when summing up how his Atlético de Madrid team became the first visitors to leave the renovated Camp Nou with victory in their Champions League quarter-final first leg last night.
As the following analysis, bought to you by FedEx, will show, Atleti's clinical finishing was decisive on a night they had only nine touches in Barcelona's box – and five goal attempts to their hosts' 18. Indeed, beyond the 11th minute they had just two attempts and scored from both.
"Through good teamwork, we were able to capitalise on key moments," added Simeone, whose side defended deep, with patience and discipline, and looked to take advantage of Barcelona's high line when opportunities arose, such as with the move ending with defender Pau Cubarsí's sending-off and the free-kick from which Julián Alvarez hit the first goal after 45 minutes.
Player of the Match Alvarez had taken "five or six" free-kicks in training the day before and, as he explained, "didn’t score one but the important one was today". It was his third direct free-kick goal in the competition and his ninth goal in this 2025/26 Champions League campaign – a record for an Atleti player.
UEFA Technical Observer Ole Gunnar Solskjær noted that Alvarez hit the ball hard with the instep and it cleared the defensive wall and kept rising. "The way he hits it, it's explosive," added Solskjær.
Sorløth's happy hunting ground
Atleti's second goal continued substitute Alexander Sørloth's scoring run against Barcelona – it was the Norwegian's fifth at Camp Nou and seventh overall against them. "I don't know if it's something in the air – the hotel, the city, I don't know – but I have a good feeling and I feel dangerous when I step on the ground [here]," said Sørloth.
His compatriot and former striker Solskjær acknowledged the psychological factor – "I'm sure Alexander would have gone onto the pitch thinking, 'I'll score today'" – before praising his strong centre-forward play that concluded with the hard, low finish shown above.
Noting how Sørloth holds off centre-back Gerard Martín, Solskjær continued: "He doesn't let the central defender get ahead of him. He has his body in between him and the ball. I always try to coach my strikers that if it's a little bit behind you, you have to hit it with the nearest foot because then the defender can never wrap his foot around you."
"A good cross from Matteo [Ruggeri] and totally efficient" was Simeone's own verdict, Atleti's coach hailing that efficiency once more.
A renowned striker who won six Premier League titles at Manchester United, and scored the winner in the 1998/99 UEFA Champions League final, Solskjær steered Molde to two league titles in his native Norway then reached the 2020/21 UEFA Europa League final as United boss.
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