If someone offered Luis Enrique 77 percent possession and 13 shots for his Barcelona side before the Champions League quarterfinal match at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, he would have happily accepted.
The heart and hustle of Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid side is harder to measure on the stat sheet, but both showed up in spades on the scoreboard as the home side got two goals from Antoine Griezmann to take a stunning 2-0 win.
The loss bounces the defending champions out of the competition, which has not seen a repeat winner since AC Milan in 1989 and 1990.
Atletico joins Bayern Munich, who advanced past Benfica on aggregate, in the Champions League semifinals. Real Madrid and Manchester City booked places on Tuesday.
Simeone’s side stayed compact, pressured the ball all over the field and limited the chances for Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Lionel Messi has now failed to score in his last 5 games for Barcelona, his longest run without a club goal for 6 years, since April 2010
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 13, 2016
It hasn’t been the best run of form for Barcelona, but this match was more about what Atletico did well rather than anything Barca may have done poorly.
In the 36th minute, Griezmann opened the scoring:
How's that for a ball? Saúl swings it in to Griezmann, who heads home to put Atletico in front. @HeinekenSoccer #UCL https://t.co/XS8GQ4M4B5
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 13, 2016
Things went from bad to worse in the 87th minute, when an Andres Iniesta handball in the box gifted Atletico a penalty. Griezmann coolly slotted it home to close the scoring:
Cool as a cucumber! Antoine Griezmann seals his brace from the penalty spot. @HeinekenSoccer #UCL https://t.co/nXZEN6aLgd
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 13, 2016
Benfica 2, Bayern Munich 2
Mexican international Raul Jimenez gave the hosts early hope with a first-half goal, but Bayern Munich struck back with strikes from Arturo Vidal and Thomas Muller and eventually hung on for a 2-2 draw — which was good enough to take it through to the semifinals.
Jimenez got things rolling for the Portuguese side in the 27th minute:
Mexico international Raul Jimenez beats Manuel Neuer to the ball and pulls Benfica level vs Bayern Munich. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/ok40pSw77g
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 13, 2016
Vidal thundered home a volley 10 minutes later to equalize for the Germans:
Arturo Vidal's perfectly struck volley gives Bayern the all-important away goal at Benfica. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/PU5hDAjWly
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 13, 2016
Just after halftime, Bayern climbed on top through a strike from Muller:
Thomas Muller's 29th goal in all comps and 8th in the #UCL this season gives Bayern an insurance goal at Benfica. https://t.co/DzTy9LBT6S
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 13, 2016
That put Bayern up 3-1 on aggregate and effectively ended the tie. Benfica wasn’t deterred, however, pulling one back on a superbly struck free kick by Talisca:
It might be too little, too late for Benfica, but Talisca with the goal of the day against Bayern. #UCLonFOX https://t.co/a1HtiGAbhc
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 13, 2016
There would be no more scoring, however, securing Bayern’s spot in Friday’s semifinal draw.
