2024-03-13 23:04:43
Champions League
Atletico Madrid eliminated last year’s finalists Inter Milan and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Coach Diego Simeone’s team beat the Italian champions 3-2 on penalties on Wednesday evening following an exciting game. After regular time and subsequent extra time, the score was 2-1 (1-1, 0-0) for Atletico. Inter won the first leg 1-0.
The game was initially dominated by Atletico. Samuel Lino shot up and away from the left, but Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer fished the ball out of the far corner. The superior Serie A leaders, who had to do without the injured first-leg goal scorer Marko Arnautovic, made their first appearance in the opposing penalty area in the 13th minute: Denzel Dumfries tested Jan Oblak twice, Atletico’s keeper made a skillful save (13th).
However, 20 minutes later the Slovenian was beaten. After a remarkable attack over several stations, Nicolo Barella brought the ball to the middle and Federico Dimarco finished. It didn’t take long for the Spaniards to respond. Inter mightn’t get the ball out of the penalty area, Benjamin Pavard made a mistake in his attempt to clear the ball and served the ball to his French national teammate Antoine Griezmann, who was successful with a shot on the move (35′).
Atletico with the better end
Griezmann also provided the first highlight following the break, his shot being tamed by Sommer (53′). On the other hand, Inter missed the opportunity to make an early decision when Marcus Thuram (76th) and Barella (81st) counterattacked. That was to take revenge in the 87th minute – “Joker” Memphis Depay, who had recently hit the inside bar, defeated Sommer with a sharp low shot into the far corner (88th).
Since Rodrigo Riquelme missed a shot for Atletico in the 93rd minute, the game went into extra time, where Atletico had their best opportunity. But Sommer remained the winner once morest Depay (96th). As a result, both teams no longer took the ultimate risk. In the penalty shootout, Alexis Sanchez and Davy Klaassen were defeated by Oblak and Saul Niguez by Sommer, respectively, before world champion Lautaro Martinez slammed his penalty well over the goal, sealing Inter’s exit.
“It’s a wonderful night. It was a difficult game. Penalty shootouts are always a lottery. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I’m happy and proud that I saved two penalties. It was a good match for us and it was important that we got to the quarter-finals. We showed the best version of ourselves,” Oblak cheered.
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