Defender Filipe Luis maintains Atletico Madrid are still very much alive in their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona.
Fernando Torres put Atleti ahead on 24 minutes but was then shown a red card after collecting a needless second caution. A second-half brace from Luis Suarez then gave Barca a 2-1 first-leg win.
But the home side , who had seen their long unbeaten record ended following a late defeat at home by 10-man Real Madrid in El Clasico on Saturday, were not able to further add to tally.
And Luis believes that leaves the tie very much in the balance ahead of the second leg at Vicente Calderon on April 13.
Luis said on BT Sport Europe: "W e had our chances, but we always knew it was going to be really difficult, but we think we are still alive.
"They won, they have the result on their side, they had a lot of chances, and fortunately for us they only scored two goals, so it could have been worse.
"We are still alive, we have to win now. It is possible but it will be really difficult."
Luis was unhappy with the decision of German referee Felix Brych to dismiss Torres.
"It was a totally unfair red card, his second foul and his second yellow. We knew that was going to happen, Barcelona in the Champions League. We have to play against everybody and everything," the defender added.
"The manager said we needed an epic game to win. Now it will be difficult but we are still alive."
Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano believes Luis Enrique's men have the required focus to progress at the Vicente Calderon.
He said: "We know we have to go to Madrid to do our work and will try to do our same work as we did in the second half, which is the way to try to go to the semi-finals.
"We had some clear chances to score another goal, but the main target before the game was to win and we will try to do that again in Madrid.
"We are focused in the game for the semi-finals and will do everything to get there."
Enrique hailed the efforts of his men.
"We must appreciate the difficulty that (it is to) play against Atletico. With this attitude and these players we will go to the end of the world," he said at a press conference, reported on the official Barcelona Twitter feed.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone believes the visitors remain very much in the tie.
"B eyond the inequality there was in the match, we leave with a situation that allows us to have hope," he said on the club's official Twitter feed.
"I am very happy with my team. Once again, we started winning, we were doing very well."
Source: PA
