Atletico oust Barca to seal Champions League semi-final spot

Madrid, April 10 (IANS) Atletico Madrid defeated FC Barcelona 1-0 in the second leg to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 2-1 aggregate win.

The Wednesday result, which came thanks to an early Koke goal, ended a run of four draws between the two teams this season, reports Xinhua.

Looking at the names in the Barca squad, Atletico’s superiority over five meetings this campaign has to be down to the capacity of coach Diego Simeone to get every ounce of effort from his squad.

Proof of that was the performance of striker Adrian Lopez, drafted in to replace injured star, Diego Costa.

Adrian ran his heart out and was vital as cheered on by a fervent crowd in the Vicente Calderon Stadium, Atletico tore into Barcelona and could have sealed qualification in the first 20 minutes.

It was Jorge Resurreccion’s (Koke) sixth minute goal that proved decisive as he fired home from close range after Adrian had teed him up with a header.

Former Barca striker, David Villa then hit the woodwork twice before the 20th minute as Atletico blew Barca off the pitch.

Atletico didn’t give the Catalans any respite, closing down spaces in an incredible display of physical of football prowess.

Barca coach Tata Martino had said in his pre-game press conference that the last 30 minutes of the first leg, when Barca had a tired Atletico on the ropes, was the model to follow.

But with Cesc Fabregas struggling to get involved and Lionel Messi crowded out every time he got the ball, it was almost impossible to create chances and the few sights at goal Barcelona had were magnificently dealt with by Thibaut Courtois in the Atletico goal.

Barca began the second half strongly, but were unable to make the breakthrough and although Martino replaced first Cesc and then Andres Iniesta with Alexis Sanchez and Pedro Rodriguez, it was not to be their night.