Atletico Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan (2-2 agg.) – Jan Oblak saves twice in shoot-out as Atleti advance in Champions League
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Updated 14/03/2024 at 01:54 GMT
Atletico Madrid sealed qualification for the Champions League quarter finals after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Inter. The Italians had doubled their first leg lead through Federico Dimarco, but Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay strikes levelled the tie, and after an extra time stalemate, Jan Oblak was the hero, saving twice as the 2023 finalists crashed out.
Cesar Azpilicueta of Atletico de Madrid and Jan Oblak of Atletico de Madrid celebrate following their team's victory in the penalty shoot out after the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Atlético Madrid and FC Internazional
Image credit: Getty Images
Atletico Madrid staged a rousing comeback to book their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals with an epic 3-2 penalty shoot-out win over Inter Milan in the last 16 after fighting back from 2-0 down on aggregate.
Having won the first leg of the tie 1-0 at the San Siro, last year's finalists Inter doubled their lead when Federico Dimarco finished off a lovely move for the opener on 33 minutes.
But Simone Inzaghi's Serie A leaders somehow contrived to squander their position of strength as Antoine Griezmann punished some poor defending to level two minutes later before substitute Memphis Depay sent the match to extra-time with a clinical strike on 87 minutes.
With Marcus Thuram blowing two clear-cut chances to win it for Inter, the 2010 winners paid a heavy price as Alexis Sanchez and Davy Klaassen saw their penalties saved by Jan Oblak before captain Lautaro Martínez walloped his effort high and wide to condemn Inter to a first defeat of the year at a bouncing Metropolitano.
Saul Niguez also had a penalty saved by Inter keeper Yann Sommer, but it proved immaterial as Diego Simeone's side booked their spot in Friday's quarter-final draw with Italian hopes in the tournament also ended for this year.
Atletico join Real Madrid, Barcelona, holders Manchester City, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight.
Talking Point: Did Inter contribute to their own downfall?
Having led 2-0 on aggregate with less than an hour left of play, Inter will wonder how they managed to let slip such a strong advantage.
In particular, coach Simone Inzaghi will wonder if he made the right choices late on in the match amid plenty of regrets in leaving Madrid.
With the clock ticking down and his side looking comfortable, the Inter manager opted to make a raft of changes, four in the final 17 minutes, to protect the lead late on.
But rather than helping his team see it out, the alterations seemed to add confusion to the ranks and merely invited more pressure on Inter as they shipped a fateful late goal to send the match to extra-time.
Player of the Match: Memphis Depay (Atletico Madrid)
A man of many clubs, and clearly still a man for the big occasion. Looked like time was running out for Atleti in this competition when the energised Dutch forward replaced Álvaro Morata on 79 minutes, but it proved to be an inspired choice as he hit the post with a shot before slamming home the late equaliser seconds later. He also converted an unstoppable penalty in the shoot out to help his side advance to the last eight.
Player Ratings
Atletico Madrid: Oblak 8, Savic 7, Witsel 7, Hermoso 7, Molina 7, Llorente 7, Koke 7, De Paul 7, Lino 7, Morata 7, Griezmann 7 Subs: Azpilicueta 6, Riquelme 7, Niguez 6, Correa 6, Depay 8, Barrios 6
Inter Milan: Sommer 7, Pavard 6, De Vrij 6, Bastoni 6, Dumfries 6, Barella 7, Çalhanoğlu 6, Mkitaryan 6, DiMarco 7, Thuram 6, Lautaro Martinez 7, Subs: Acerbi 6, Bisseck 6, Darmian 6, Klaassen 6, Frattesi 6, Sanchez 6
Match Highlights
33' GOAL! (DIMARCO) ATLETICO 0-1 INTER Brilliant break by the visiting side as Barella races into the home area before crossing with ease for Federico Dimarco to slam the ball past Oblak. And that is a crucial goal. They lead 2-0 in this tie.
35' GOAL! (GRIEZMANN) ATLETICO 1-1 INTER Antoine Griezmann turns to fire the ball into the net after it broke to him kindly off Alessandro Bastoni. Poor defending by the visitors, who are punished for their error. It is suddenly 1-1. The lead lasting just two minutes.
76' CHANCE FOR INTER TO SEAL THE DEAL Big miss for Inter as Marcus Thuram bounds onto a superb pass from Martínez, but he leans back and lifts the shot well over. Oblak not being worked. That would have clinched it.
86' ALMOST THE LEVELLER FOR ATLETICO! Depay with the strike at goal, but it comes back off a post with Sommer beaten from the Koke ball. How unlucky is that. Inter deciding to sit back and attempt to see this one out.
87' GOAL! (DEPAY) ATLETICO 2-1 INTER Well, would you believe this. Brilliant turn and finish from Depay to drill the ball low into the corner of the net with Sommer unable to get down quickly enough. Just sensed that was coming. Lovely assist by Koke to cut open the visitors with the pass. 2-2 on aggregate.
90+3' WHAT A CHANCE TO WIN IT! Inter cut wide open as Griezmann picks out Rodrigo Riquelme. Huge chance to finish it off, but he lifts the ball over Sommer and the bar. Will they regret blowing that opportunity? The full-time whistle goes. We go to extra-time.
95' GOLDEN CHANCE FOR INTER Thuram rises highest in the home box, but mistimes his jump from the Yann Bisseck cross and heads miles wide with the Atleti defence AWOL. That was a very decent chance, and Thuram knows it.
ATLETICO 3-2 INTER (on pens) And Atletico don't need the final penalty as Lautaro Martínez blasts the spot-kick high over the bar. It is all over. Atletico are through to the last eight. Inter's first defeat of the year.
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