It was Messi's 30th goal in 39 competitive games against Atletico
France's Zinedine Zidane, Argentina's Diego Maradona, Brazil's Ronaldo and Italy's Fabio Cannavaro etched their names in football folklore by winning the game's biggest prize for their country. However, their return to the same stage four years later is best forgotten.
Morata, who had scored his first goal for the club in last week's 2-0 win over Villarreal, rose to head home from close range on the half-hour mark following a corner which had been flicked on by Atleti captain Diego Godin.
Barca looked set for a third consecutive league draw as they created scant opportunities but they were presented with the advantage of an extra man when Villarreal midfielder Daniel Raba was given a straight red card for a wild, studs-up challenge on Sergio Busquets on the hour mark.
Barca feel familiar February blues as tiredness sets in
Novak Djokovic has a potentially tricky second-round match at the French Open on Wednesday when he faces local favourite Jeremy Chardy -- the man who beat Roger Federer at this year's Rome Masters.
Look who we spotted at the Flushing Meadows this year.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) will extend an invitation to Argentine legend Diego Maradona to visit the strife-torn nation and help it in raising the standard of the sport.
If Atletico Madrid win a first Champions League title by beating city rivals Real Madrid on Saturday they will become the most successful team in the club's history, eclipsing the La Liga and King's Cup double winners of 1996.
Atletico Madrid's troubles away from home continued when they were held to a goalless draw at Alaves on Saturday, dropping points on the road for a second consecutive week and losing Uruguay international Jose Maria Gimenez to injury.
Germany battle to become the first European side to win a World Cup on Latin American soil in Sunday's final against Argentina whose captain Lionel Messi is out to emulate the great Diego Maradona.
Diego Maradona has been invited by Colombia's FARC to play for their team in a soccer 'Game for Peace' during talks in Cuba between the rebels and the Colombian government looking to settle a decades-old conflict.
This and more from the happenings in the world of football
Frequently bracketed with Pele and Diego Maradona among the greatest exponents of the game, Alfredo Di Stefano, who died on Monday, aged 88, was one of the most complete footballers of all time.
Photos of the quarter-final match between Argentina and Belgium
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