Atletico knock out Barcelona

• Posted on April 14, 2016
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Defending champions Barcelona were eliminated from the Champions League 3-2 on aggregate after falling to Atletico Madrid 2-0 in their second-leg quarterfinal tie at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.

Atletico, who knocked out the Catalans at the same stage of the competition two years ago, reduced Luis Enrique’s side to passes in their own half for much of the opening period.

And for their dogged defensive effort, Diego Simeone’s men earned a deserved opener on 36 minutes through top-scorer Antoine Griezmann and a fine assist from Saul.

Griezmann, unmarked in the Barcelona box, rose and guided in Saul’s inch-perfect outside-of-the-foot cross past a stretching Marc-Andre ter Stegen and into the near-post top corner.

It was the influential Frenchman’s 28th goal of the season and his fifth in Champions League play this campaign.

Atleti nearly doubled their advantage shortly after the break, again via header. But Saul’s looping effort was denied only by the crossbar as well-beaten Ter Stegen only watched.

Barca then managed their first sustained pressure of the game, but Jordi Alba’s dangerous cross from the right was well-cleared by a scrambling Atletico defence.

Griezmann was played in behind the back line minutes later, only to hit his tight-angle shot straight at Ter Stegen under pressure.

Luis Suarez had a chance fall his way in the 67th minute — his snapshot from 15 yards easily saved by Jan Oblak.

Suarez was presented another reaction shot on 84 minutes, but Oblak was again up to the task, getting down to collect the Uruguayan’s ball.

Despite the Barca pressure, Atleti took their second — and the tie — two minutes from time. Filipe Luis’ brilliant run down the left led to an Andres Iniesta handball in the box.

And it was Griezmann who stepped up and slotted just past Ter Stegen from the spot.

Two minutes later, however, Barcelona had a penalty shout of their own when Gabi appeared to handle the ball in his own box. The free kick was awarded just outside of the area, and Lionel Messi’s shot went inches away from the far top corner.

–espnfc