FOOTBALL – ATLETICO Madrid reached their first Champions League semi-final in nine years last night, squeezing past Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate despite a nerve-racking 2-1 home defeat that had the Metropolitano holding its breath until the final whistle.
Diego Simeone’s side had done much of the heavy lifting with a 2-0 win at the Camp Nou in the first leg, and that cushion proved just enough to withstand an early Barca blitz as the visitors struck twice in the first half to level the tie.
Lamine Yamal capitalised on a Clement Lenglet error to open the scoring in the fourth minute, finishing neatly past goalkeeper Juan Musso after Ferran Torres set him up.
Torres then made it 2-0 in the 24th, racing clear onto Dani Olmo’s pass and driving the ball into the top corner.
Atletico, rocked but not floored, found a lifeline in the 31st minute. Marcos Llorente burst down the right and drilled a low cross to the far post where Lookman outpaced his marker and fired inside the left post to restore the hosts’ aggregate lead.
Barcelona dominated possession after the break and had a third goal ruled out for offside against Torres as Pedri and Gavi controlled the midfield.
Barca finished with 10 men after a last-man challenge brought a red card for defender Eric Garcia and Atletico held on to secure a place in the last four against Arsenal or Sporting who play tonight with the London side leading 1-0.
Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembele struck twice to confirm Paris St Germain’s place in the semi-finals with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool, sealing a 4-0 aggregate win in their quarter-final tie at a rain-soaked Anfield.
The holders soaked up sustained pressure from Liverpool, who were roared on by a raucous home crowd, but preserved the advantage they established in the first leg in Paris last week to book their fifth semi-final berth in seven seasons.
Dembele scored at Anfield for a second successive campaign when he latched onto a ball from Bradley Barcola in the 72nd minute and curled a shot into the bottom corner past Giorgi Mamardashvili from 20 yards out. He completed his double early in stoppage time, slotting home a cross from Barcola.
PSG will meet either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the next round, with the German side leading 2-1 ahead of tonight’s quarter-final second leg.
“We managed to stay strong and defended well,” PSG defender Marquinhos told Canal+. “You can see how the team has matured. We’ve gained experience.”
Boos rang around Anfield in the second half after a penalty was overturned by VAR, initially awarded when Willian Pacho clattered into Alexis Mac Allister in the box.
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