Atletico Madrid has reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since the 2016/2017 season, following a thrilling 3-2 aggregate victory over Barcelona. The Spanish side took a 2-0 lead into the second leg, but their advantage was short-lived as Barcelona struck back with goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres within 25 minutes. However, Atletico regained their composure and restored their aggregate lead through a sweeping move finished off by Ademola Lookman.
The match took a decisive turn when Eric Garcia was sent off for bringing down Alexander Sorloth, leaving Barcelona with little hope of a comeback. Atletico will now face the winner of the tie between Arsenal and Sporting in the semi-finals, scheduled to take place on April 28 or 29 and May 5 or 6. Yamal had earlier made history by becoming the youngest player to record 20 goal involvements in Champions League history at 18 years and 275 days old. Despite a strong performance from Barcelona, Atletico's experience and game management ultimately paid off, with the team showing their ability to control the game and hit their opponents on the counter-attack.
The semi-final tie promises to be an exciting encounter, with Atletico looking to capitalize on their momentum and Arsenal or Sporting aiming to cause an upset.