Atletico Madrid 1-0 Barcelona (agg: 2-1)
Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid who reached the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years.
It was the first time in seven years that Bar̤a had not reached the last four of the Champions League. They complained 24 hours ahead of kick-off at the length of the grass Рon the night they could have no complaints.
Diego Simeone’s side were dealt a blow before kick-off with Chelsea target Diego Costa failing a late fitness test. That meant Adrian started in his place having scored only two goals all season.
But it was the reserve striker who rattled the post after five minutes and when the ball ran out to David Villa he crossed, Adrian played in Koke, and the midfielder scored past Jose Pinto.
Barcelona’s goalkeeper then saw two Villa shots come back off of the bar as Atletico laid siege to Barcelona unprotected goal.
Banned by Uefa from signing players for the next two transfer windows this is a team in desperate need of defensive and goalkeeping reinforcements.
Leo Messi headed wide and then put a Neymar pass even wider of Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
Barcelona had two of the biggest three names in world football in their attack but it was Atletico Madrid who had the plan and the energy and the courage to put it into action.
Atletico Madrid fans had created a pre-match mosaic spelling out ‘win, win, and win again’. It was one of their former manager Luis Aragones’ favourite phrases. The last time they were in a European Cup semi-final he was in the team but it was Atletico who played like the team with recent Champions League pedigree.
Howard Webb waved away penalty appeals from Fabregas in the Atletico area and then shook his head again in the second half as Villa went down in the area.
The former Barcelona player gave one of the performances of his life against his old team and might have got Atletico’s second had he been played in by Gabi on the break.
In the end it didn’t matter as Simeone’s team went through and Barcelona limped out. - See more at:
Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid who reached the semi-finals for the first time in 40 years.
It was the first time in seven years that Bar̤a had not reached the last four of the Champions League. They complained 24 hours ahead of kick-off at the length of the grass Рon the night they could have no complaints.
 |
| Atletico Madrid knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League after Koke struck early in the second leg of the quarter-final at the Vicente Calderon. |
But it was the reserve striker who rattled the post after five minutes and when the ball ran out to David Villa he crossed, Adrian played in Koke, and the midfielder scored past Jose Pinto.
Barcelona’s goalkeeper then saw two Villa shots come back off of the bar as Atletico laid siege to Barcelona unprotected goal.
Banned by Uefa from signing players for the next two transfer windows this is a team in desperate need of defensive and goalkeeping reinforcements.
Leo Messi headed wide and then put a Neymar pass even wider of Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
Barcelona had two of the biggest three names in world football in their attack but it was Atletico Madrid who had the plan and the energy and the courage to put it into action.
Atletico Madrid fans had created a pre-match mosaic spelling out ‘win, win, and win again’. It was one of their former manager Luis Aragones’ favourite phrases. The last time they were in a European Cup semi-final he was in the team but it was Atletico who played like the team with recent Champions League pedigree.
Howard Webb waved away penalty appeals from Fabregas in the Atletico area and then shook his head again in the second half as Villa went down in the area.
The former Barcelona player gave one of the performances of his life against his old team and might have got Atletico’s second had he been played in by Gabi on the break.
In the end it didn’t matter as Simeone’s team went through and Barcelona limped out. - See more at:
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