Defeat never tasted so good. At the end of a battle in which both teams had fought and both had bled too, a huge banner was unfurled at the south end of the Metropolitano and Atlético Madrid’s anthem belted out. “We give everything to win the cup,” it said, and, boy, had they.
For the first time, Diego Simeone had seen his team lose a Champions League knockout game at home, but it didn’t matter. As that final whistle went, there was delirium, delight. They had waited a long time for this. Ten years and one day later, Atlético Madrid eliminated Barcelona to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League again.
In the end, the 2-0 win at the Camp Nou a week ago had been enough, even though at one point on an intense, emotional evening, it hadn’t been. Barcelona levelled the tie early, but Atlético came back at them, an Ademola Lookman ‘winning’ goal ultimately sending them through. They had resisted, they had rebelled, and in the end they had done it. Barcelona will have to try again, the comeback beyond them.
Down to 10 men for the final 10 minutes, Eric García becoming their second defender to be sent off in this tie, Hansi Flick’s men had thrown everything at this. Ronald Araújo even came on as an emergency striker, provided with a wonderful chance to take this to extra time at the very death. His header though went over, leaving him lying face-down on the turf. They had won but it was not enough. They will have to be back, as Lamine Yamal promised. Atlético, defeated here 2-1, progressed 3-2 on aggregate.
