Antoine Griezmann scored twice at the Vicente Calderon as Atletico Madrid once again overcame the reigning champions Barcelona to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Barcelona entered the second leg of the quarter-final holding a 2-1 advantage from the first match at Camp Nou, but Griezmann sent Atletico ahead on the night in the 36th minute, before the Frenchman netted a second from the penalty spot in the 88th minute to send the capital side into the final four.
Atletico also beat Barcelona at this stage of the 2013-14 competition and Diego Simeone's side have joined Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the European Cup.
© AFP
Fernando Torres's suspension meant a reshuffle in the final third for Atletico, with Saul Niguez moving forward to join Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Griezmann in attack and Augusto Fernandez coming into the midfield.
At the back, Stefan Savic returned to the squad following a toe problem, but young Frenchman Lucas Hernandez continued at centre-back alongside Diego Godin in a team that showed no surprises.
As for Barcelona, Luis Enrique selected the same XI from the first leg last week. Luis Suarez returned from a league suspension to join Neymar and Lionel Messi in the final third, while Gerard Pique started despite suggestions that he would miss out due to a troublesome hip problem.
Messi, Neymar and Suarez entered the match having scored 109 club goals between them this season, but Messi had been on his worst run of scoring form for five years, which co-incided with a couple of disappointing weeks for the Catalan club, which had seen them lose back-to-back La Liga matches.
© Getty Images
Atletico had a half-chance inside three minutes when Gabi met a loose ball inside the Barcelona box, but the captain's effort was always rising over the crossbar, before Marc-Andre ter Stegen was forced to keep out a Carrasco drive less than one minute later in what was a bright start from the capital outfit.
Atletico had another opportunity in the seventh minute when Filipe Luis picked out the head of Griezmann with a beautiful cross, but the Frenchman's effort never had enough power to evade Ter Stegen.
Carrasco whipped a dangerous cross towards Griezmann in the 10th minute as the home side continued to threaten, but Barcelona managed to clear their lines as they attempted to gain a foot-hold in the match.
The Catalan giants enjoyed the majority of the ball in the opening 30 minutes at the Calderon, but were struggling to create opportunities against a strong and well-drilled Atletico outfit.
© Getty Images
Atletico had a shout for a penalty when Carrasco went down inside the box under a clumsy challenge from Pique, but the referee was not interested, much to the frustration of Simeone on the touchline.
Messi's first sight of goal came from a 30-yard free kick in the 33rd minute, but the Argentine's effort was always moving over the crossbar as the visitors continued to struggle in the final third of the field.
Atletico deservedly took the lead on the night in the 36th minute when Saul, who was afforded too much space, delivered a super cross onto the head of Griezmann, who angled his effort into the back of the net to level the quarter-final tie at 2-2.
Neymar tried his luck from distance as Barcelona had a rare chance in the 42nd minute, but Oblak was on hand to make the save, before Ter Stegen kept out a strike from Carrasco down the other end. Barcelona had 71% of the possession in the first period in Madrid, but managed just one attempt on target.
© Getty Images
Dani Alves and Koke both had half-chances inside the opening five minutes of the second period, but the former struck wide of the Atletico goal from distance, before the latter just failed to find Carrasco after beating Ter Stegen to the ball.
Saul almost beat Ter Stegen with a looping header in the 53rd minute, but the midfielder's effort hit the top of the crossbar during what was an end-to-end period of the match in the Spanish capital.
Barcelona had a wonderful chance to draw level just before the hour when Jordi Alba broke down the left and whipped a low cross into Pique, but somehow Atletico skipper Gabi made the clearance to prevent a certain leveller.
Moments later, Atletico launched a counter and Griezmann burst away from Mascherano and Pique before attempting to beat Ter Stegen at his near post, but the German was on hand to make the stop.
© Getty Images
In the 64th minute, Barcelona boss Enrique made a double change - introducing Arda Turan and Sergi Roberto for Alves and Rakitic and the Catalan side had arguably their best chance within two minutes of the alterations. It came for Suarez, who rolled Godin inside the Atletico box, but the striker fired straight at Oblak.
Barcelona continued to put the pressure on as the second period gathered pace, but Atletico remained unmoved at the back and yellows arrived for the likes of Neymar and Suarez as their frustration grew.
Suarez had another opportunity in the 84th minute when he turned inside the Atletico box, only to see his strike saved by the brilliant Oblak, who dealt with a number of crosses late on.
© Getty Images
Atletico were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute when Andres Iniesta handled a Luis cross inside the box and Griezmann stepped up to send the home side into a 2-0 lead on the night.
Barcelona wanted a penalty of their own in second-half stoppage time when Gabi appeared to handle inside the box, but the referee instead pointed for a free kick just outside the area and Messi curled a poor set piece over the crossbar as Atletico booked their spot in the semi-finals.
Barcelona, who have now only won one of their last five games in all competitions, were attempting to become the first team since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990 to claim back-to-back European Cups, but they must now focus on recovering from back-to-back defeats in La Liga.
Barcelona entered the second leg of the quarter-final holding a 2-1 advantage from the first match at Camp Nou, but Griezmann sent Atletico ahead on the night in the 36th minute, before the Frenchman netted a second from the penalty spot in the 88th minute to send the capital side into the final four.
Atletico also beat Barcelona at this stage of the 2013-14 competition and Diego Simeone's side have joined Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich in the semi-finals of the European Cup.
© AFPFernando Torres's suspension meant a reshuffle in the final third for Atletico, with Saul Niguez moving forward to join Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Griezmann in attack and Augusto Fernandez coming into the midfield.
At the back, Stefan Savic returned to the squad following a toe problem, but young Frenchman Lucas Hernandez continued at centre-back alongside Diego Godin in a team that showed no surprises.
As for Barcelona, Luis Enrique selected the same XI from the first leg last week. Luis Suarez returned from a league suspension to join Neymar and Lionel Messi in the final third, while Gerard Pique started despite suggestions that he would miss out due to a troublesome hip problem.
Messi, Neymar and Suarez entered the match having scored 109 club goals between them this season, but Messi had been on his worst run of scoring form for five years, which co-incided with a couple of disappointing weeks for the Catalan club, which had seen them lose back-to-back La Liga matches.
© Getty ImagesAtletico had a half-chance inside three minutes when Gabi met a loose ball inside the Barcelona box, but the captain's effort was always rising over the crossbar, before Marc-Andre ter Stegen was forced to keep out a Carrasco drive less than one minute later in what was a bright start from the capital outfit.
Atletico had another opportunity in the seventh minute when Filipe Luis picked out the head of Griezmann with a beautiful cross, but the Frenchman's effort never had enough power to evade Ter Stegen.
Carrasco whipped a dangerous cross towards Griezmann in the 10th minute as the home side continued to threaten, but Barcelona managed to clear their lines as they attempted to gain a foot-hold in the match.
The Catalan giants enjoyed the majority of the ball in the opening 30 minutes at the Calderon, but were struggling to create opportunities against a strong and well-drilled Atletico outfit.
© Getty ImagesAtletico had a shout for a penalty when Carrasco went down inside the box under a clumsy challenge from Pique, but the referee was not interested, much to the frustration of Simeone on the touchline.
Messi's first sight of goal came from a 30-yard free kick in the 33rd minute, but the Argentine's effort was always moving over the crossbar as the visitors continued to struggle in the final third of the field.
Atletico deservedly took the lead on the night in the 36th minute when Saul, who was afforded too much space, delivered a super cross onto the head of Griezmann, who angled his effort into the back of the net to level the quarter-final tie at 2-2.
Neymar tried his luck from distance as Barcelona had a rare chance in the 42nd minute, but Oblak was on hand to make the save, before Ter Stegen kept out a strike from Carrasco down the other end. Barcelona had 71% of the possession in the first period in Madrid, but managed just one attempt on target.
© Getty ImagesDani Alves and Koke both had half-chances inside the opening five minutes of the second period, but the former struck wide of the Atletico goal from distance, before the latter just failed to find Carrasco after beating Ter Stegen to the ball.
Saul almost beat Ter Stegen with a looping header in the 53rd minute, but the midfielder's effort hit the top of the crossbar during what was an end-to-end period of the match in the Spanish capital.
Barcelona had a wonderful chance to draw level just before the hour when Jordi Alba broke down the left and whipped a low cross into Pique, but somehow Atletico skipper Gabi made the clearance to prevent a certain leveller.
Moments later, Atletico launched a counter and Griezmann burst away from Mascherano and Pique before attempting to beat Ter Stegen at his near post, but the German was on hand to make the stop.
© Getty ImagesIn the 64th minute, Barcelona boss Enrique made a double change - introducing Arda Turan and Sergi Roberto for Alves and Rakitic and the Catalan side had arguably their best chance within two minutes of the alterations. It came for Suarez, who rolled Godin inside the Atletico box, but the striker fired straight at Oblak.
Barcelona continued to put the pressure on as the second period gathered pace, but Atletico remained unmoved at the back and yellows arrived for the likes of Neymar and Suarez as their frustration grew.
Suarez had another opportunity in the 84th minute when he turned inside the Atletico box, only to see his strike saved by the brilliant Oblak, who dealt with a number of crosses late on.
© Getty ImagesAtletico were awarded a penalty in the 87th minute when Andres Iniesta handled a Luis cross inside the box and Griezmann stepped up to send the home side into a 2-0 lead on the night.
Barcelona wanted a penalty of their own in second-half stoppage time when Gabi appeared to handle inside the box, but the referee instead pointed for a free kick just outside the area and Messi curled a poor set piece over the crossbar as Atletico booked their spot in the semi-finals.
Barcelona, who have now only won one of their last five games in all competitions, were attempting to become the first team since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990 to claim back-to-back European Cups, but they must now focus on recovering from back-to-back defeats in La Liga.
No comments:
Post a Comment