Diego Simeone’s first reaction was to ask for calm. With 24 minutes of the second game against Barcelona, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the Catalan team had equaled the advantage built by Atlético de Madrid in the first match, at Camp Nou.
Lamine Yamal scored in the fourth minute, and Ferran Torres added in the 24th. On aggregate, the score indicated a 2-2 draw. It was at that moment that the Argentine coach tried to reassure his team.
While the vast majority of fans at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium were already apprehensive about the possibility of a historic turnaround, Ademola Lookman managed to absorb Simeone’s guidance and put the home team back at an advantage.
Despite the 2-1 home defeat, Atlético de Madrid advanced this Tuesday (14) to the semi-finals and will continue in search of the unprecedented Champions League title. The aggregate ended 3-2.
Throughout the two clashes with Barcelona, the team from the Spanish capital knew how to take advantage of fatal mistakes by the opposing defenders. On the way, defender Pau Cubarsí was sent off at the end of the first half, when Atlético began to build their 2-0 victory.
In the return duel, Barça suffered again with one less. In the 35th minute of the second half, Eric García received a red card after a foul on Alexander Sørloth, who had a clear chance of reaching the goal. The expulsion helped Simeone’s team hold off the visitors’ pressure until the end of the game.
In the next phase, Atlético de Madrid will face the winner of the clash between Arsenal and Sporting. In the first game, the English team won 1-0.
In the other bracket, Paris Saint-Germain beat Liverpool again this Tuesday (14), this time at the home of the English team, 2-0, and also advanced to the semi-final. The French team awaits the winner of the clash between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. In the first game, the German team beat Spain 2-1.
