Atletico Madrid knocked holders Barcelona out of the Champions League with a 3-2 aggregate victory after Antoine Griezmann’s double secured a 2-0 second-leg win at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.
Atleti edged ahead when Griezmann headed past Marc-Andre ter Stegen on 36 minutes, and the Frenchman added a second from the penalty spot two minutes from time after Andres Iniesta’s handball.
Barcelona were denied a late penalty themselves when Iniesta’s shot appeared to strike Gabi Fernandez on the arm in the box, but referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded a free-kick, which Lionel Messi curled over.
Atletico Madrid, who eliminated Barca at the same stage of the competition two seasons ago, join Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid in the last four, with the draw set to take place in Nyon on Friday.
Knowing they needed to score at least once to progress and without suspended striker Fernando Torres, Atleti started on top and went close after just three minutes through captain Gabi, who blazed over from 14 yards.
The game soon settled into a familiar pattern with Barcelona controlling possession and the hosts more dangerous on the break, and Luis Enrique’s side mustered just one shot on target in a lethargic opening half.
And with Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar on the fringes, Barca fell behind nine minutes before the break through Griezmann’s 28th goal of the season.
The Frenchman had already squandered a free header when Saul Niguez’s measured cross picked him out in the Barca penalty area and this time he made no mistake, powering a header past Ter Stegen.
Atletico had a penalty appeal waved away when Gerard Pique clumsily challenged Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, while Neymar drew a comfortable save from Jan Oblak as Barca looked to respond.
The hosts went closest next when Atletico defender Lucas Hernandez hit the crossbar with a looping header, but Enrique’s side grew into the game as the second half progressed and only brave defending from Gabi denied Pique a tap-in after Jordi Alba’s low cross.
Suarez rolled Diego Godin to create the visitors’ best chance but fired straight at Oblak, while Griezmann tested Ter Stegen on a rapid counter-attack.
Diego Simeone’s side continued to pose a threat on the break, and won an 88th minute penalty after a surging run from Filipe Luis. Iniesta handballed the left-back’s pass to Griezmann, giving the forward the opportunity from the spot, and Griezmann squeezed it home to double Atletico’s advantage.
Barca still required just one goal to send the game to extra time, and felt they should have had a stoppage-time penalty when Iniesta’s shot struck Gabi on the arm a yard inside the penalty area.
But Atleti held on for their 13th Champions League clean sheet from their last 15 home matches, booking their place in the semi-finals for the second time in three years.
Source:SkySports
