A Madrid 1 – 2 Barcelona

A Madrid 1 – 2 Barcelona

Atletico Madrid reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2016/17 after a 3-2 combination win over Barcelona.

Diego Simeone’s males took a 2-0 lead into the second leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, however their benefit was spectacularly wiped out within 25 minutes after objectives from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres.

A sweeping transfer was then completed off by Ademola Lookman as Atletico saved their nerve to revive their combination benefit and there was little chew from Barca in the second half, despite the introduction of each Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski.

Any final hopes of a comeback have been extinguished with 11 minutes of the 90 to play, when Eric Garcia was despatched off for bringing down Alexander Sorloth as the last man, with the striker bearing down on objective.

Atletico will face the winner of the tie between Arsenal and Sporting in the semi-finals. The first leg will happen on April 28 or 29, with the second leg on May 5 or 6.

How Atletico reached their first Champions League semi-final in 9 years

Speaking in a press convention on Monday, Yamal had insisted he and his Barcelona team-mates “must not think of a comeback as a miracle” – and his personal efforts soon proved that assertion proper.

Image:
Lamine Yamal put Barcelona ahead on the night time

Within seconds of the first whistle, he had pressured goalkeeper Juan Musso to tip his effort round the left-hand put up – and inside 4 minutes, he had scored the opener, pouncing on a Torres move to slip dwelling.

That made him the youngest participant to report 20 objective involvements in Champions League historical past at 18 years and 275 days outdated.

Before lengthy, the LaLiga leaders had levelled the tie. Torres took one contact to deliver Dani Olmo’s move under management, a second to create house and a 3rd to emphatically beat Musso from a decent angle.

Image:
Ferran Torres made it 2-2 on combination

But Atletico soon reminded them their lead on the night time was just that and nothing more. They re-established the combination lead in the tie when Marcos Llorente capped off a sweeping counter by delivering an inch-excellent cross for Lookman to comb in.

Shortly before the hour, Barca thought they’d restored parity as soon as more when Gavi’s effort was blocked by Clement Lenglet, however looped into the air for Torres to volley into the top nook. He had, however, strayed offside.

Image:
Ademola Lookman restored Atletico’s combination lead

Rashford and Lewandowski have been launched, however the anticipated onslaught didn’t come. Barcelona had nothing to lose and every little thing to realize, even after Garcia was despatched off after referee Clement Turpin had gone to the monitor.

They did get one last likelihood to drive additional time deep into stoppage time, however Ronald Araujo headed over the bar, taking Barca’s hopes of a second straight Champions League semi-final with it.

‘Arsenal will still fancy their possibilities against Atletico in the event that they beat Sporting’

Kris Boyd talking on Soccer Special:

(*2*)It was a performance the place you felt as in the event that they have been accountable for the game and will hit Barcelona on the counter-assault.

“Barcelona’s line is so high and, if you time your runs, you can in against them nearly every time.

“Arsenal would in all probability have been considering they have been going to play Barcelona in the semis. If they will get past Sporting tomorrow, which you’d anticipate them to do, I anticipate they may fancy their probabilities of going by.”

Koke: Atletico deserved to win the tie

Atletico Madrid’s Koke speaking to Movistar Plus+:

“We’re completely thrilled, eliminating a team of Barca’s level. We struggled at the starting, however the team overcame it. The effort was huge and we’re deserved winners of the tie.

“I told my team-mates we had to keep going. It’s football, we’re playing at home, the tie was level and we had to attack. We were able to score and even had a few more chances.

“Musso had a superb game, as did Llorente, Julian, Griezmann. That’s what we want – to score from anyplace on the discipline to remain in competition in all competitions.”

De Jong: Luck wasn’t on our aspect

Image:
Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth, top, and Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong challenge for the ball

Barcelona’s Frenkie De Jong talking to Movistar Plus+:

“We played a very good match. We gave it our all. I have the feeling that luck wasn’t on our side.

“I feel we’re rising and that we now have a younger, proficient team that can compete for every little thing. We’re going to maintain going like this.

(*1*)

Story of the match in stats

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