Hero to zero: Torres scores, gets red card in 11-minute span
Fernando Torres has been the star attraction in the opening half of Tuesday's Champions League contest at the Camp Nou.
For 11 minutes, that was a decidedly positive remark.
The beleaguered Atletico Madrid striker stunned Barcelona by scoring the opening goal of the match in the 25th minute with a fine finish, but then proceeded to lose his mind, picking up a pair of foolish yellow cards within 11 minutes of his tally and heading for an early shower.
Related - VIDEO: Fernando Torres shocks Barcelona with quarter-final opener
Naturally, the football Twitterverse reacted to the surreal series of events.
Hero - Torres opens the scoring
1-0 Atletico. Torres, had to be
— BarcaBlaugranes (@BlaugranesBarca) April 5, 2016
Torres scoring at the Camp Nou. Memories.
— Graham MacAree (@MacAree) April 5, 2016
Fernando Torres really is Barcelona's kryptonite.
— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) April 5, 2016
— Kristian vS Hæhre (@vonstrenginho) April 5, 2016
Zero - Torres sent off
What a 10 minutes from Torres, super goal, almost great assist, and two quick yellow cards.
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) April 5, 2016
Well, well, well. Torres. What a mess. Another foul, another yellow and, before halftime, he has to walk. Unreal.
— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) April 5, 2016
Fernando Torres' career in ten minutes
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) April 5, 2016
That's such an easy call, what the hell is Torres doing
— Kevin McCauley (@kevinmccauley) April 5, 2016
Probably the 3rd time Torres has deserved a yellow.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) April 5, 2016
What. A. Tool.
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) April 5, 2016
Hard to see the point of either of Torres yellow cards; play was going nowhere and, with 2nd, player was literally facing away from goal.
— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) April 5, 2016