Alvarez reveals inspiration from Messi free-kick in Champions League

Julian Alvarez revealed his free-kick against Barcelona was inspired by one scored by Lionel Messi versus Liverpool in 2019.

Atletico Madrid defeated Barca 2-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday, with Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth securing the win at Camp Nou.

After Pau Cubarsi was sent off for a last-man challenge on Giuliano Simeone, Alvarez bent the resulting free-kick into the top-right corner on the stroke of half-time.

Alvarez became just the second player to score a direct free-kick away against Barcelona in the Champions League, after Antonio da Silva for Stuttgart in December 2007.

It was also Alvarez's ninth Champions League goal of the season, the outright most by an Atleti player in a single campaign, bettering Diego Costa's eight in 2013-14.

After the victory, Alvarez likened his goal to Messi's against Liverpool in 2019, when Barca won the first leg 3-0 before losing 4-0 at Anfield.

"I've watched Messi's goal against Liverpool here [at the Camp Nou] several times, but I wasn't entirely sure it was going into that exact corner," Alvarez told ESPN.

"Once you strike the ball, you realise it, and even before I kicked, I was already quite certain. We were practising in training, and I hadn't converted a single one. Today was what mattered.

"I'm in good form at the moment. I feel great, and the most important part of the season is coming up. We need to keep working hard, because there are great things ahead."

Simeone, who won the most duels (8/16) for Atleti in the first leg, highlighted the importance of Alvarez in the team.

"Whether Barcelona have one less player or one more, they play identically," said Simeone.

"We had to adapt to what the game demanded. That's what makes us a better team.

"Julian scored a fantastic goal. He's an extraordinary player for Atletico. I'm thrilled for him, because I know how hard he works, and how humble he is. He's super important for us."