MADRID (AP) — With tears in his eyes, Diego Simeone stared on the Atletico Madrid followers celebrating within the Metropolitano Stadium stands.
Minutes earlier, the coach was pacing backwards and forwards by the sideline, unable to observe the tense penalty shootout that ended with Atletico triumphing over Inter Milan and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Jan Oblak made two saves and Lautaro Martínez despatched his shot over the crossbar as Atletico defeated Inter 3-2 on penalties after scoring a late winner in regulation on Wednesday.
“It was shifting,” Simeone stated. “I’m completely happy for the gamers and for the followers. We’re among the many finest eight groups in Europe once more. That tells lots about this membership.”
Oblak saved the penalties by Alexis Sánchez and Davy Klaassen earlier than Martínez missed the ultimate kick for final 12 months’s runner-up within the European competitors.
“In the long run it’s a bit about luck within the shootout,” Oblak stated. “As a result of it’s a must to select the right aspect and it’s a must to make the cease. If the participant takes the kick completely, it’s not possible to cease it. Gladly, I used to be in a position to make the saves. What issues is the victory and that we made it to the quarterfinals.”
Memphis Depay, Rodrigo Riquelme and Ángel Correa transformed their penalties for Atletico, with Saúl Ñíguez having his shot saved by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Hakan Calhanoglu and Francesco Acerbi scored for the guests within the shootout.
Atletico reversed the 1-0 first-leg loss after Depay scored an 87th-minute objective that gave Simeone’s crew a 2-1 win in regulation.
Atletico didn’t make it previous the group stage final season and was eradicated by Manchester Metropolis within the final eight in 2021-22.
Inter, which misplaced final 12 months’s remaining to Man Metropolis, had arrived on the Metropolitano Stadium having fun with a 13-game profitable streak. It hadn’t misplaced in 15 consecutive video games in all competitions and had gained all of its matches in 2024.
“We have to be happy with what we did on this Champions League,” Inter coach Simone Inzaghi stated. “Within the second half we should always have finished higher. In additional time we had extra vitality however sadly we made too many errors.”
Inter opened the scoring in regulation with Federico Dimarco within the thirty third, however Atletico equalized two minutes later with Antoine Griezmann in his return from damage.
Within the different Champions League match Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund defeated PSV Eindhoven 2-0 at house to advance 3-1 on combination.
The eight groups within the draw for the quarterfinals are Atletico, Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Actual Madrid, Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal and Barcelona.
It was an open match on the Metropolitano Stadium, with Atletico urgent ahead from the beginning and Inter threatening on counterattacks.
The hosts dominated the ultimate a part of the match and created a number of possibilities till Depay broke via with the late winner with a low shot from inside the realm after a pleasant arrange by midfielder Koke Resurrección.
Inter had elevated its first-leg lead with Dimarco scoring with a low shot from the center of the realm after a go by Nicolo Barella following a breakaway within the thirty third.
Nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy for Atletico to reply, equalizing a few minutes later with Griezmann scoring after choosing up a free ball inside the realm.
Griezmann was making his return to motion after spraining his ankle within the first leg in Italy three weeks in the past. The France ahead has been key for Atletico this season however hadn’t scored in eight consecutive matches in all competitions.
Barella had an opportunity so as to add Inter’s second objective in a breakaway within the 82nd however he bought off a weak shot in a one-on-one scenario with Oblak. Depay had hit the put up within the eighty fifth, a couple of minutes after coming off the bench to interchange Álvaro Morata.
Riquelme got here near sealing Atletico’s triumph within the third minute of stoppage time in regulation, however his shot from close to the penalty spot missed over the crossbar. Simeone dropped to the bottom after the ball sailed over the online.
Atletico arrived with an ideal house file however had gained solely two of its final 9 matches in all competitions.
The Champions League represents Atletico’s final sensible probability for a title this season. It was eradicated within the semifinals of the Copa del Rey and sits in fourth place within the Spanish league, 14 factors behind chief Actual Madrid.
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