Atletico Madrid reached the Champions League semi-finals for the primary time since 2016/17 after a 3-2 mixture win over Barcelona.
Diego Simeone’s males took a 2-0 lead into the second leg on the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, however their benefit was spectacularly worn out inside 25 minutes after objectives from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres.
A sweeping transfer was then completed off by Ademola Lookman as Atletico stored their nerve to revive their mixture benefit and there was little chew from Barca within the second half, regardless of the introduction of each Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski.
Any last hopes of a comeback had been extinguished with 11 minutes of the 90 to play, when Eric Garcia was despatched off for bringing down Alexander Sorloth because the final man, with the striker bearing down on aim.
Atletico will face the winner of the tie between Arsenal and Sporting within the semi-finals. The primary leg will happen on April 28 or 29, with the second leg on Might 5 or 6.
How Atletico reached their first Champions League semi-final in 9 years
Talking in a press convention on Monday, Yamal had insisted he and his Barcelona team-mates “should not consider a comeback as a miracle” – and his personal efforts quickly proved that assertion proper.
Lamine Yamal put Barcelona forward on the night time
Inside seconds of the primary whistle, he had compelled goalkeeper Juan Musso to tip his effort across the left-hand submit – and inside 4 minutes, he had scored the opener, pouncing on a Torres go to slip residence.
That made him the youngest participant to report 20 aim involvements in Champions League historical past at 18 years and 275 days previous.
Earlier than lengthy, the LaLiga leaders had levelled the tie. Torres took one contact to carry Dani Olmo’s go beneath management, a second to create house and a 3rd to emphatically beat Musso from a good angle.
Ferran Torres made it 2-2 on mixture
However Atletico quickly reminded them their lead on the night time was simply that and nothing extra. They re-established the mixture lead within the tie when Marcos Llorente capped off a sweeping counter by delivering an inch-perfect cross for Lookman to comb in.
Shortly earlier than the hour, Barca thought they’d restored parity as soon as extra when Gavi’s effort was blocked by Clement Lenglet, however looped into the air for Torres to volley into the highest nook. He had, nonetheless, strayed offside.
Ademola Lookman restored Atletico’s mixture lead
Rashford and Lewandowski had 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 final likelihood to power 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.
