Atletico Madrid expose fatal flaw in Barcelona to reach Champions League semi-finals

Atletico Madrid expose fatal flaw in Barcelona to reach Champions League semi-finals Atletico Madrid 1-2 Barcelona (3-2 on agg. ) Atletico Madrid secured passage to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in nine years, thanks to a goal from Ademola Lookman. Hansi Flick’s Barcelona could not stop the bleeding against a lethal Atletico.

The game started off in aggressively frantic fashion, with both sides immediately going for the throat. The opening minute saw Lamine Yamal test Juan Musso with a shot, saved well, before Atletico Madrid burst up the other end, Julian Alvarez causing problems. Every player seemed to be sprinting at all times, and with Lamine Yamal missing his first press four minutes in, Clement Lenglet did not bank on his second effort.

Blocking the Frenchman’s pass, Ferran Torres returned the ball to the teenager one-on-one, who was coolness personified, slotting past Musso for an early lead. That did not settle things. Gavi was forced into two crucial interventions on the edge of his box shortly after, and Ademola Lookman, who started off the sharpest of any Atletico player, sliced an effort wide.

Before the 10-minute mark, Dani Olmo was sent clear by Lamine Yamal again, but Musso, after an initial slip, got a hand to halt the Barcelona onslaught. Finally, both sides agreed to lower the absurd pace of the game, looking for longer spells of possession. It appeared as if the hosts were starting to get to grips with the game, and Antoine Griezmann fashioned the first real chance of the game for Los Colchoneros.