Atletico Madrid edged their way into the Champions League semi-finals despite going down 2-1 to a resurgent Barcelona on Tuesday.
Match Report
Trailing 2-0 from last week's first leg, the Blaugrana, who ended the contest at the Metropolitano with 10 men, fought back bravely, but Ademola Lookman's goal was enough to seal a 3-2 aggregate win for Atletico.
Lamine Yamal fired off a warning shot in the opening two minutes, and the youngster took full advantage of his next chance, calmly slotting under Juan Musso after racing onto Ferran Torres' pass.
Ferran went from provider to scorer in the 24th minute, lashing in brutally to drag Barca level in the tie.
Fermin Lopez looked set to put Barca ahead on aggregate when he met a cross from the right, but he could not beat the advancing Musso, with the Spain international taking an accidental boot to the face to compound his frustration.
Atletico made their luck count in the 31st minute, with Marcos Llorente driving down the right and squaring it perfectly for Lookman, who drilled home first time.
Barca thought they had drawn level once more when Ferran hammered beyond Musso early in the second half, but he had just strayed offside before Gavi's shot deflected into his path.
And Barca's task was made much harder in the 79th minute as, after a VAR check, Eric Garcia was sent off for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, having hauled down substitute Alexander Sorloth.
Ronald Araujo looked all set to send the game to extra time in the dying stages, only to head over from six yards out.
Data Debrief: Lookman outshines Lamine's slice of history
On his 150th appearance for Barca in all competitions, Yamal started in inspired fashion. His goal, timed at 3:51, was Barcelona's earliest strike in a Champions League knockout stage match since Lionel Messi scored against Chelsea in the round of 16 in March 2018 (02:06).
It took Yamal on to 20 goal involvements in the Champions League. At the age of 18 years and 265 days, he is the youngest player to hit this milestone in the competition's history.
Yet it was ultimately Lookman who had the final say. He has now been directly involved in nine goals in 17 Atletico appearances. Since the forward's debut for the club in February, only Julian Alvarez (11) has more goal contributions for Diego Simeone's team.
Hansi Flick was left seething by Garcia's red card, and the German may well see that as the real turning point, but ill-discipline again came back to cost the Blaugrana. Barca have received a red card in both legs of a Champions League knockout round tie for the first time.
Atletico just about did enough in a typically dogged display. Although Simeone's men did match Barca for shots (15 each), the Blaugrana created chances worth 2.28 expected goals to their hosts' 1.71.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
1' Yamal with solo run from kick-off, shot saved by Musso
4' GOAL! Lenglet backpass error, Yamal finishes. Atletico 0-1 Barcelona
9' Álvarez sets up Lookman, shot wide
9' Yamal with fine pass, Olmo shot saved by Musso
21' Griezmann close-range shot blocked, referee awards goal kick
24' GOAL! Ferran scores after Olmo through ball. Atletico 0-2 Barcelona
26' Fermín heads ball, caught in face, receives treatment
28' Yamal sits on ball, waits for play to resume
31' GOAL! Llorente cross, Lookman taps in. Atletico 1-2 Barcelona
41' Olmo goes down in box, no foul given
42' Yamal drives forward, slips in Ferran, who turns and shoots, blocked
44' Poor corner from Fermín goes straight out of play
46' Cancelo through ball out, goal kick given, Barca protest
48' Heavy fall for Eric García after aerial challenge
49' Llorente trips Ferran from behind, no card shown
50' Ferran direct free-kick over the bar
51' Yamal goes down in box after burst, referee waves play on
53' Lookman curling shot, possible García deflection, just wide
57' Ferran goal disallowed, offside
64' Yamal squeezes out pass under pressure, Olmo collects, fires over
66' Substitution: Baena, Nicolás González on
67' Substitution: Lewandowski, Rashford on for Ferran, Fermín
69' Marcos Llorente angled shot just wide
69' Yellow Card! Gavi booked
74' Le Normand shot in box, superb save from Joan García
75' Griezmann off, Sorloth on
80' Red Card! Eric García sent off
80' Álvarez free-kick gathered
82' Barcelona substitution: Frenkie de Jong on, Gavi off
86' González with bicycle kick in scramble, wide
88' Molina through on goal, shot straight at Joan García who gathers
89' Substitutions: Araújo, Baldégi, Johnny Cardozo on
92' Joan García handles ball outside area, referee takes no action
94' Match Event for Atletico vs Barcelona
97' Match Event for Atletico vs Barcelona
Line-ups
Atletico XI: Griezmann, Koke, Lenglet, Musso, Llorente, Le Normand, Lookman, Molina, Alvarez, Matteo Ruggeri, Giuliano Simeone
Subs: Oblak, Sørloth, N. Gonzalez, Álex Baena, Thiago Almada, Johnny Cardoso, Javier Boñar, Salvi Esquivel, Rodrigo Mendoza, Obed Vargas, Julio Díaz, Dani Martinez
Barcelona XI: Cancelo, Olmo, Ferran Torres, Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pedri, Joan García, Gavi, Fermín López, Yamal, Gerard Martín
Subs: Szczesny, Lewandowski, De Jong, Rashford, Araujo, Balde, Casado, Roony Bardghji, Diego Kochen, Álvaro Cortés, Xavi Espart, Tommy Marqués
Walmorak
323
100 likes for this guy. He was phenomenal
bosskbeeee
238
BARCELONA IS THE ONLY FOOTBALL CLUB IN HISTORY TO COMEBACK AND GO BACK
eggosa91
226
He gave his all today . HATE HIM OR LOVE HIM YOU CANT DENY GREATNESS 👑
Nam_So
131
Fcuking Disgrace this French Referee
akshaybeniwal
123
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
Walmorak
116
Appreciation post for the guy who sent Barca home. What a great run and positioning by Ademola Lookman.💪💪💪 Thank you, Atletico, for successfully neutralising noise pollution🎉
danoni31
99
Barca won, drew and lost in the same game
dougiefresh
87
Sineone on Lamine after the game!!! "Lamine Yamal can win the Champions League on PlayStation."
EmeraldJ
67
To be fair, Barcelona gave a very good account of themselves tonight. They were simply unlucky against a stubborn Athletico Madrid team.
bosskbeeee
67
Real Madrid traveled to Germany with their full squad, and Barcelona's full squad is in Madrid... The Bernabeu is empty, which means the 15 Champions League trophies aren't safe there 😭
footballerfan
40
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
don't be a hypocrite in both legs it was a foul
AFerHKJc1725
35
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
Master this is not la liga
Don Zayo
32
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
So now every referee that officiates a match that your team loses is automatically bad
Anthonyer
30
GIF link Here: https://www.matchgif.com/v2/live/matchGifs?match_id=54418741&language=en
Zopdilorsu
28
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
Chelsea 2009. Karma!
BarcaTroll
25
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
cry more!
Germ1985
18
When Negreira can’t help Barcelona in the champions league 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
Anuolu190
17
Chelsea 2009. Karma!
It’s not karma , will they gave yellow card for last man tackle, this not laliga, I’m sure if is laliga they will only give him yellow
bosskbeeee
16
While Atletico Madrid were training Lamine Yamal was busy recreating Le Bron James photos 😂😂😂
Nesiya100
14
Fcuking Disgrace this French Referee
[image]
Joan Garcia caught the ball outside the box. That was another red
micky111
12
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
Small loser club mentality.
Hritangshu93
10
Well we missed a few good chances but nevertheless...... congratulations to us for fighting till the end and moreover congratulations to Athletico Madrid for holding on.....they knew exactly where to hit us......wish they can at least reach UCL final this year......
Cicblnopyz
10
He gave his all today . HATE HIM OR LOVE HIM YOU CANT DENY GREATNESS 👑
[image]
I'm Madrid fan but yamal is the best player in the world right now
AFerHKJc1725
10
how that was not penalty against olmo
You think this be la liga?
BarcaTroll
9
He gave his all today . HATE HIM OR LOVE HIM YOU CANT DENY GREATNESS 👑
[image]
great players carry their teams...
Kimabeiny
9
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
did u see one of the best players.. did fouls..play better and avoid red,, cry
pawacdeiu
9
He gave his all today . HATE HIM OR LOVE HIM YOU CANT DENY GREATNESS 👑
[image]
Downman is better than this fella
Nesiya100
8
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
Both the red cards were correct
y_olayinka
8
He gave his all today . HATE HIM OR LOVE HIM YOU CANT DENY GREATNESS 👑
[image]
Oya use the greatness take carry champions league na
Jieabkmpr
8
how that was not penalty against olmo
Sufferlona fc have started crying again😂😂
Øffîcîâlmøñdøñ
8
one of the worst referee I've ever seen in both legs ,giving red card out of nowhere, shameless referee
you gonna explain tired
Neymarcelo
8
The remontada was possible until this kid decided to fart on the match ball