Atletico Madrid secured a 3-2 aggregate victory over Barcelona to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since the 2016/2017 season. Despite a strong Barcelona comeback in the second leg, Atletico held their nerve and capitalized on a sweeping counterattack to restore their aggregate lead.
The match saw a series of intense moments, including a red card for Eric Garcia and a disallowed goal for Ferran Torres. Atletico will now face the winner of the Arsenal and Sporting tie in the semifinals, with the first leg scheduled for April 28 or 29 and the second leg on May 5 or 6. The team's victory was marked by a solid performance, with players like Ademola Lookman and Marcos Llorente making significant contributions. In a post-match press conference, Atletico's Koke expressed the team's excitement and pride in eliminating a strong opponent like Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Barcelona's Frenkie De Jong acknowledged the team's growth and potential, despite being knocked out of the quarterfinals.