Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann celebrates a goal against Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg match at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid. Photo: AFP Madird: Holders Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League after being stifled by a brilliantly well-organised Atletico Madrid and undone by two goals from Antoine Griezmann in a 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat on Wednesday.
Griezmann headed home Saul Niguez's exquisite cross to give the home side the lead in the 36th minute and provide them with a platform from which they comfortably contained their uncharacteristically limp opponents to seal a 3-2 aggregate win.
The France forward scored again from the penalty spot with two minutes remaining, following a handball from Andres Iniesta, to complete a 3-2 aggregate victory that eliminated Barca at the quarterfinal stage for the second time in three seasons. Barcelona, who were bidding to become the first team to retain the Champions League, seem to have run out of steam at the end of the season, having won just one of their last five matches.
They have not looked the same side since their 39-game unbeaten run ended at the start of the month and they came into the Wednesday's match on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad.
Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann scores against Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg match at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid. Photo: AFP "I congratulate Atletico Madrid, they were better than us,” Barca coach Luis Enrique told reporters.
“We had control without creating much danger. The team wanted to retain the title, the fans did too, but today it was not to be. We are sad, of course.”
The Atletico supporters created a fervent atmosphere and the noise at kick-off spurred the hosts into a strong start, with Gabi blazing over and Yannick Carrasco and Griezmann testing Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
"We never stopped believing, we never give up what we want to do,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
Bayern enter fifth CL semi in style
Bayern Munich's forward Thomas Mueller (centre) celebrates after scoring a goal aginast SL Benfica in the UEFA Champions League second leg quarterfinals at the Luz stadium in Lisbon. Photo: AFPBayern Munich booked their fifth successive Champions League semifinal spot with a 2-2 draw at Benfica on Wednesday to seal a 3-2 aggregate victory that kept the Germans on course for a treble of titles.
Arturo Vidal's 38th-minute goal cancelled out the hosts' early lead through Raul Jimenez's header and Thomas Mueller's volley early in the second half eased their nerves.
The Portuguese side, vying for their first semifinal in more than a quarter of a century, managed a late equaliser through Talisca but still suffered their fourth elimination in their fourth European tie against Bayern.
The Bavarians will face Real Madrid, city rivals Atletico, who eliminated holders Barcelona, or England's Manchester City in the last four.
"It was a sensational atmosphere but it was hard work," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm, who played his 103rd Champions League game to become joint leader in Germany along with former Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn.
Benfica were without top strikers Jonas, Gaitan and Kostas Mitroglou through suspension or injury and were quickly on the back foot as expected with the Germans controlling 70 per cent of possession.
Mueller had the Germans' first good chance but fired wide after 15 minutes with Benfica's double backline working extremely hard.
"That double line was sometimes even three lines. They were a very difficult opponent," said Bayern coach Guardiola.
The hosts struck following a quick break when Eliseu found space to cross from the left and Jimenez charged past two defenders to score with a flying header.
The Mexican went close to adding another but Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer did well to parry his shot.
The Bavarians looked briefly rattled by the setback but quickly recovered when Vidal, who scored the winner in the first leg, drilled in the equaliser after perfectly timing his shot from keeper Ederson's clearance.
Guardiola had surprisingly kept top scorer Robert Lewandowski on the bench and Mueller took over his role, slipping in like a natural centre forward and volleying in a Martinez assist.
Bayern, also chasing a record fourth straight Bundesliga crown as well as the German Cup, did not let up and Douglas Costa' powerful shot hit the post on the hour.
Martinez was lucky not to be sent off for a last-man foul and Benfica coach Rui Vitoria was sent to the stands over the referee's decision to book the Spaniard.
But Talisca gave him something to smile about, curling the resulting free kick past Neuer to cap a battling performance against the German giants.
