Atlético Madrid sends Barcelona out

Barcelona’s hopes of a second Champions League in a row, two trebles in two years, were broken. For only the second time in eight years they have failed to reach the semi-finals; both times they were crashed out at this stage and by this Atlético side.

There will be much to pick over after the referee, Nicola Rizzoli, judged that a handball in the 91st minute had occurred outside the area, not in it. Lionel Messi took the free-kick, sending Barcelona’s last chance over the bar and four nervous minutes later this stadium erupted once more.

Atlético had three attempts on goal inside seven minutes and, if one was an easy catch for Marc–André ter Stegen, there were genuine chances for Gabi and Griezmann. The first flew over from near the edge of the area; the second, a header, drew a sharp save. A moment later, Yannick Carrasco’s ball flashed across the box. The home side had chosen to attack; the visitors’ plan appeared to be to anaesthetise. Barcelona had the immense majority of the ball but they moved it slowly and from deep.

Ter Stegen is good with his feet, a fact that became the excuse to seek him out. It felt at times as if he had more of the ball than anyone else; more, certainly, than any of his good team-mates. Messi, Neymar and Luis Suárez were rarely seen, while Andrés Iniesta only momentarily became involved. Perhaps Barcelona wanted to invite Atlético on to them, opening space beyond. Instead they invited problems.

There were appeals for a penalty when Gerard Piqué challenged Carrasco, falling into him head and shoulder first. And then, on 36 minutes, the Calderón erupted when Saúl’s beautiful pass, struck with the outside of his boot, was headed into the net by Griezmann.

Then, the second half, the team with a lead to defend who attacked, Koke running on to Juanfran’s ball into the area before passing his own. Saúl then headed against the bar before Barcelona started to get forward. Suárez and Jordi Alba combined for the full-back to kick the ball across the six-yard box where Gabi cleared. Diego Godín then blocked Alba’s shot and Jan Oblak saved from Iniesta. Arda Turan, replacing Ivan Rakitic, had his first shot seconds after coming on. Next, Iniesta drew a save

Alba headed along the edge of the area and had his shot blocked by Lucas, Piqué became a centre-forward and back Atlético went – until, that was, they broke in the 88th minute, Filipe Luis dashing up the left and forcing a penalty, when Iniesta head the ball Griezmann scored but that was not all. Three minutes later Barcelona appealed for one of their own, one that would have changed everything and forced extra-time. Iniesta’s shot hit Gabi’s arm, which appeared to be inside the area only for the free-kick to be given outside. Messi hit it over; Atlético went through.