Updated 00.35 | Published 2024-03-13 23.46
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Atlético Madrid clinched the last quarter-final spot in the Champions League.
This following defeating Inter following a penalty drama.
Goalkeeper Jan Oblak became a big hero when he saved two penalties.
Inter won the first round of 16 at the San Siro 1–0 and dominated the match from start to finish.
The question was whether Atlético Madrid might make a match of it all in the second leg at home at the Wanda Metropolitano – and yes, they might. The Spaniards with Antoine Griezmann back from his foot injury – looked hot and created several chances going forward.
But despite that, it was last year’s Champions League finalist who broke the deadlock following half an hour of play. After a nice attack, Nicolo Barella got the ball and played diagonally to the back where Federico Dimarco might easily score 0-1.
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The uphill slope got steeper when Atlético Madrid now needed to score two goals to take the whole thing to extra time.
But it didn’t even take two minutes before the Spaniards equalised. Koke with a pass where the ball finally reached Antoine Griezmann, who scored his sixth goal in this year’s Champions League and moved up into shared scoring league lead.
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full screenJan Oblak. Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images
Atlético Madrid tried and gave everything in the last twenty minutes, they created several good chances where recently substituted Memphis Depay had a dream with a finish on the post.
But he would get revenge, in the 87th minute of the match, Depay was able to give the home team the lead with 2-1 and 2-2 on aggregate, which took the whole thing to extra time.
After a goalless overtime, the whole thing had to be decided on penalties. There, another goalkeeper became a great hero. Yesterday Arsenal’s David Raya. Today Jan Oblak – who saved two penalties and sent his Atletico Madrid to the quarter-finals.
– We are very happy to have Jan, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, says Savic to TV4 and continues:
– It was a Champions League final, a very good match, we are very happy that we beat Inter, who are a really good team.
The quarter-finals will be drawn on Friday at 12 noon.
FACT
All quarter-final teams
Manchester City
Real Madrid
PSG
Bayern Munich
Barcelona
Arsenal
Dortmund
Atletico Madrid
The quarter-finals will be played on April 9 and 10 (first legs) and April 16 and 17 (return legs).
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