FC Barcelona’s comeback in the second leg against Atlético Madrid began by making history. What followed was a frenzied, dramatic spectacle, and though Barça won, they still exited the competition.
Ahead of FC Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atlético Madrid, manager Hansi Flick made history by fielding the club’s youngest ever Champions League knockout line-up, with an average age of just 24 years and 347 days.
He made three changes to his starting line-up from the 2-0 first-leg defeat. Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres replaced Marcus Rashford, Robert Lewandowski and the suspended Pau Cubarsi. The selection of Torres paid off at once.
After Clement Lenglet’s costly error, Torres fed Lamine Yamal, whose fourth-minute finish pulled the tie back to 1–0 on aggregate. Nineteen minutes later, he collected a superb Dani Olmo pass in the box and thundered the ball into the right-hand corner, wiping out the first-leg deficit and making it 2–0 on the night within 24 minutes
Injury halts Barcelona’s rampage – Atlético strike back ruthlessly
Moments later, though, substitute Fermin Lopez suffered a sickening blow. The forward, fresh on as a Flick introduction, rose unmarked to head a Yamal pass only to be denied by Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso. In the collision, Musso’s studs struck Lopez full in the face and nose. (25.) Blood gushed from his face, forcing a several-minute stoppage for treatment, though the 22-year-old eventually returned.
The lengthy stoppage initially favoured the Rojiblancos. Moments after play resumed, Antoine Griezmann released Fernando Llorente, who in turn fed Ademola Lookman in the centre; the winger finished calmly to make it 1–2 (31). That proved to be the final score in a contest that stayed enthralling throughout the second half.
Ferran Torres’s apparent 55th-minute third was ruled out for offside, and although Barça kept pressing for a decider, Atlético again leaned on super-sub Alexander Sörloth. The Norwegian replaced Griezmann to a standing ovation in the 76th minute, and within 60 seconds he had burst clear, forcing Eric Garcia to bring him down. As in the first leg, Barcelona finished with ten men, though this time the decision was uncontentious.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Barça kept pushing, and substitute Ronald Araujo missed a golden opportunity to make it 3-1 shortly before the eight minutes of added time expired.
Barça are eliminated from the Champions League, while Atlético will meet the winner of Arsenal versus Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
He made three changes to his starting line-up from the 2-0 first-leg defeat. Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Ferran Torres replaced Marcus Rashford, Robert Lewandowski and the suspended Pau Cubarsi. The selection of Torres paid off at once.
After Clement Lenglet’s costly error, Torres fed Lamine Yamal, whose fourth-minute finish pulled the tie back to 1–0 on aggregate. Nineteen minutes later, he collected a superb Dani Olmo pass in the box and thundered the ball into the right-hand corner, wiping out the first-leg deficit and making it 2–0 on the night within 24 minutes.
Injury halts Barcelona’s rampage – Atlético strike back ruthlessly
Fermin Lopez
Moments later, though, substitute Fermin Lopez suffered a sickening blow. The forward, fresh on as a Flick introduction, rose unmarked to head a Yamal pass only to be denied by Atlético goalkeeper Juan Musso. In the collision, Musso’s studs struck Lopez full in the face and nose. (25.) Blood gushed from his face, forcing a several-minute stoppage for treatment, though the 22-year-old eventually returned.
The lengthy stoppage initially favoured the Rojiblancos. Moments after play resumed, Antoine Griezmann released Fernando Llorente, who in turn fed Ademola Lookman in the centre; the winger finished calmly to make it 1–2 (31). That proved to be the final score in a contest that stayed enthralling throughout the second half.
Ferran Torres’s apparent 55th-minute third was ruled out for offside, and although Barça kept pressing for a decider, Atlético again leaned on super-sub Alexander Sörloth. The Norwegian replaced Griezmann to a standing ovation in the 76th minute, and within 60 seconds he had burst clear, forcing Eric Garcia to bring him down. As in the first leg, Barcelona finished with ten men, though this time the decision was uncontentious.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Barça kept pushing, and substitute Ronald Araujo missed a golden opportunity to make it 3-1 shortly before the eight minutes of added time expired.
Barça are eliminated from the Champions League, while Atlético will meet the winner of Arsenal versus Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals.