A dream start for the hosts

Torres was bundled over by Antonio Rudiger on the edge of the Real Madrid box barely nine minutes into the clash at the Nou Camp.

Rashford stepped up and curled in a screamer into the top corner to give Thibaut Courtois no chance and give Hansi Flick’s side the early lead.

The advantage was soon doubled when, just nine minutes later, Torres was put through by an audacious Dani Olmo flick before sending the ball expertly around Courtois.

Barca were running away the tie, with Real in danger of their season plummeting towards embarrassment.

Barely had 30 minutes elapsed and the jubilant home fans had begun the ‘ole’ chants as the hosts dominated possession.

Los Blancos launched a fightback midway through the first period, but both Gonzalo Garcia and Vinicius Jr squandered opportunities to halve the deficit.

At the other end, Olmo snatched at a chance to increase the lead further, but the Spanish international sliced his effort well wide.

A fiery affair

Tempers began to flare after the break, with bookings for Olmo and Real’s Raul Asencio following a melee.

Both of Barca’s goalscorers then went close again, but this time were denied by Courtois as Barca looked in firm control of the tie.

Trent Alexander-Arnold and substitute Raphinha then went into the book, as Real tried desperately to get back into the game and make it an uncomfortable last quarter of an hour for their rivals.

But it was Barca who looked more likely to score. Robert Lewandowski, off the bench, tested Courtois in what proved to be the last real action of the game.

Barca saw out the game to cue jubilant scenes at the final whistle.