Atlético hold off Barcelona comeback after Lookman strike and García red | Champions League

Defeat by no means tasted so good. On the finish of a battle by which each groups had fought and each had bled, by which they’d suffered, an enormous banner was unfurled. “We give every little thing to win the cup,” it mentioned, and, boy, had they.

For the primary time, Diego Simeone had seen his staff lose a Champions League knockout recreation at residence, however it didn’t matter: as a substitute there was delirium, the membership’s anthem belted out louder than ever earlier than. “You don’t know the way beautiful it’s to be among the many 4 finest groups in Europe,” he mentioned.

That they had waited a very long time for this. Ten years and at some point later, Atlético Madrid eradicated Barcelona to achieve the semi-final of the Champions League once more. “That is the third time we’ve completed this – in opposition to Messi’s Barcelona, in opposition to Lamine’s Barcelona – and it isn’t simple,” Simeone mentioned. The opposite two instances, in 2014 and 2016, they reached the ultimate they’re so determined to return to and exorcise the ghosts from Lisbon and Milan. “I’ve been right here 14 years and by no means cease feeling emotional. I informed the gamers: thanks, thanks, thanks. For the issues we do, the religion now we have.”

Theyneeded it, Simeone saying there was a second when his staff may need folded, however they refused. Barcelona have been 2-0 down from the primary leg, however it took 24 minutes for them to carry the tie stage, objectives from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres seeming to arrange a historic comeback they usually may need scored a 3rd too.

The factor was, it took solely seven extra for Atlético to take it from them once more, Ademola Lookman sweeping in Marcos Llorente’s go. Seven minutes and a lot extra, even when it was Lookman that despatched Atlético by, 3-2 on mixture.

“How properly [Barcelona] play,” Simeone mentioned. That they had fought too, fulfilling Lamine Yamal’s promise that “if we do get knocked out, will probably be combating to the top”. Right down to 10 males for 10 minutes after Eric García turned the second Barcelona defender to be despatched off on this tie, they threw every little thing at this. Within the 96th minute, Ronald Araújo, on as an emergency striker, may need taken it to additional time. His header went over, leaving him face-down on the turf.

It was over and what an evening it had been. These have been the times when actual footballers flip up, Lamine Yamal had mentioned, and so many did. That they had been taking part in for 35 seconds when he dashed by and drew an excellent save from Juan Musso and it took three minutes extra for him to offer Barcelona the lead, guiding below Musso after he and Dani Olmo had hunted down Clément Lenglet. {The teenager} had barely began an evening of chic touches and an excellent go then put Olmo in on eight minutes, solely to be stopped by Musso.

Regardless of the first-leg rating, Hansi Flick insisted what Barcelona wanted was not a miracle, only a efficiency like this. On 24 minutes, it was stage, Torres turning neatly on to Olmo’s intelligent ball and guiding excessive into the online. Lamine Yamal’s excellent supply with the surface of his boot was then met by Fermín López’s diving header, which was saved brilliantly by Musso. The goalkeeper’s studs caught his face, leaving blood in every single place. It was not lengthy earlier than the Atlético defender Matteo Ruggeri suffered an identical destiny, each males bandaged for the remainder of the night time.

Atlético responded by taking again the lead. Antoine Griezmann, who sees every little thing with readability and performs with the calmness Simeone was desperately interesting for from the touchline, turned a superb first-time go into the run of Llorente and when Llorente runs, nobody can catch him. Racing free, he crossed for Lookman to attain, the place erupting.

Nonetheless it went on. Torres thought he had levelled, however the video assistant referee dominated it out and Lamine Yamal someway escaped 4 males to supply for Olmo to fireplace over. However Barcelona’s gas was burning out and Atlético have been able to endure. Nor did they simply resist; in addition they took a step ahead, to nice impact.

Griezmann launched Llorente to strike broad. Robin Le Normand was denied by Joan García. Nearly as quickly as he had come on Alexander Sørloth was despatched dashing by and crashing down. It took a very long time and a visit to the display screen, however Clément Turpin was proven a purple card, García heading up the tunnel alone, shirt thrown down.

Unable to wrap it up, Atlético had their nerves shred, Robert Lewandowski and Araújo lacking headed alternatives, however held on to make historical past the onerous manner, ending 2-1 down however not out.