Atlético de Madrid eliminated Inter in a match that had everything

With the conclusion of the last two round of 16 matches, the continental ‘Top 8’ was defined: Manchester City (current champion), Real Madrid, PSG, Bayern, Barcelona, ​​Arsenal, Atlético and Borussia Dortmund.

A luxurious poster for the quarterfinals, whose draw will be held on Friday.

Without penalty shootouts since the 2016 final – won by Real Madrid against Atlético – the round of 16 said goodbye with two in a row. On Tuesday Arsenal beat Porto with two saves David Raya and this Wednesday Atlético de Madrid advanced thanks to two saves from Jan Oblak.

At the Metropolitan stadium in Madrid, a team in crisis met, Atlético, and the outstanding leader of the Italian championship -16 points ahead of Milan-, an Inter that was traveling with a 1-0 advantage in the first leg, shot up with 13 victories consecutive.

But the Champions League It is another world and the rojiblancos played at a very high level from the first minute to constantly put the outgoing runner-up on the ropes.

However, on its first big occasion the team led by Simone Inzaghi took the lead, thanks to a spectacular collective play finished by Federico Dimarco (22nd).

Antoine Griezmannback in the eleven after overcoming his injury, scored the tying goal (35) and after an endless siege was the catalyst Memphis Depay the one who sent the game into overtime with his goal in the 87th minute when he took advantage of a pass from Koke.

After extra time the round arrived and Oblak won the game Alexis Sánchez and Davy Klaasen. Inter captain Lautaro Martínez shot to the clouds and Atlético de Madrid celebrated his pass in style.

“We gave everything on the field, we gave our all. The shootout I always say that in the end it’s a bit of luck, because you have to choose the right side, stop the ball… If the player shoots it perfectly, it’s impossible to stop it “Today I was able to stop two,” said Oblak.

“It’s hard, really very hard because we had good chances in the game to score one more goal but the high level is like that, it was a tough battle, in the end they were a little luckier,” said Inter’s Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer .

Three years after their last appearance in the ‘Top 8’, Borussia Dortmund returned after a hard-fought victory that ended the 1-1 draw in the first leg in the Netherlands.

The qualifying goal was early, scored in the 3rd minute by Englishman Jadon Sancho, who was then substituted with a quarter of an hour remaining, apparently with a physical problem. The second did not arrive until the final stoppage time, the work of Marco Reus (90+4).

The VAR had annulled a goal by Niklas Füllkrug in the 77th minute and the German team, European champions in 1997, could not breathe a sigh of relief until the final stoppage time against a PSV that made it difficult and never threw in the towel.

“We are happy with the first half, a little frustrated with the second, but happy because we can continue in the competition,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic.

PSV Eindhoven, which has not qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals since 2007, will now have to concentrate on the Dutch Eredivisie, where it is the undefeated leader.

“The Champions League is the highest level, we were very close, it hurts, but it is what it is”said PSV coach Peter Bosz.

In the Dutch team, Mexican Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano shone, shooting against the post in the 53rd minute and very close to a goal in the 61st minute.

Amazing stadium

Diego Simeone, the coach of Atlético de Madrid, referred to the duel against Inter that put the Spanish team in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and praised the support of the fans in a packed Wanda Metropolitano.

“I have great respect for our people, it is exciting to see the arrival of the team, to see the reception of our people, we came from an ugly game in Cádiz, yesterday what I was trying to convey is that it was not the time to ask but to give. This appeared, The team felt the support of the people, it is decisive in our stadium, the players grow, we play against an incredible rival. Being among the top eight seems easy, but it is not. We have had important games this year, today the team appeared because we have those people who transmit that energy to you. We have to improve away from home and first of all me. Today we had a plan and we followed it, they didn’t think about whether to run or not, they ran and that’s because this stadium is incredible. The team has achieved it since no one believed and it happened because they gave themselves. The players played a great game and we have good footballers. We have been having a good Champions League, now let’s continue improving. The only thing I say to the fans is thank you. (Griezmann) He participated in the most important part of the match. We left it until he asked us for a change and when he understood that the team needed freshness because he couldn’t give more, he asked for a change.

The other side was Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, who classified the Madrid night as “a disappointment” for his team.

“The boys should be proud of what they have done.We are sad, but we must congratulate the team because they have fought. In extra time we had the game and the classification in our hands, but we did not take advantage of the opportunities. Atlético de Madrid has been a great rival. In extra time, in the last half hour, the team that played the best was Inter, we had some chances that we should have taken advantage of. It is normal that there is disappointment because we are coming from a final. It’s a disappointment but they have to be proud and hold their heads high. It was a very tough game. The Champions League matches in this stadium are not easy. I think we deserved a better result, but Atlético has not given up on the game. There is hope in penalties. Yesterday we tested them and finished them better than tonight.”