Atletico Madrid 2-0 Barcelona (3-2 agg): Antoine Griezmann double dumps Catalans out of Europe

Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann (left) and Atletico Madrid's midfielder Koke celebrate after scoring a goal during the Champions League quarter-final second leg football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs FC Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on April 13, 2016. 

Atletico Madrid dumped holders Barcelona out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage for the second time in three seasons as Antoine Griezmann's double sealed a 2-0 win on Wednesday to progress 3-2 on aggregate.

Griezmann put the hosts ahead on away goals with a fine first-half header before converting from the penalty spot two minutes from time after Andres Iniesta had handled inside the area.

Barca, meanwhile, were left to rue referee Nicola Rizzoli's decision to give a free-kick on the edge of the box in injury time instead of a penalty when Gabi appeared to be inside the area as he was penalised for handball.

Defeat is Barca's third in four games after a 39-match unbeaten run stretching back six months and sees their quest to become the first side to retain the competition in the Champions League era come to an end.

Roared on by a vociferous 55,000-strong crowd at the Vicente Calderon, Atletico were worthy winners as Barca's star front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were limited to precious few clear-cut chances.

Atletico will be joined by local rivals Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich in Friday's semi-final draw.

The home side were far the better team before the break as captain Gabi fired over before Griezmann placed his first big headed chance from Filipe Luis's cross too close to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Messi's most significant involvement in the first 45 minutes saw him scurrying deep into his own half to dispossess Yannick Carrasco in a sign of the five-time World Player of the Year's desperation to get into the game.

Atletico made the all-important breakthrough nine minutes before half-time when Griezmann's header was this time precise and powerful enough to beat Ter Stegen from Saul Niguez's brilliant cross.

The goal awoke Barca sufficiently to force Jan Oblak into his first save of the evening from Neymar's curling effort.

In Summary

• Roared on by a vociferous 55,000-strong crowd at the Vicente Calderon, Atletico were worthy winners.
• Griezmann put the hosts ahead on away goals with a fine first-half header before converting from the penalty spot two minutes from time after Andres Iniesta had handled inside the area.
• Atletico will be joined by local rivals Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich in Friday's semi-final draw.

Source: Daily Nation