ATLETICO DE MADRID 1 FC BARCELONA 0 | AT MADRID WINS 2 -1 ON AGGREGATE

Epic, a match that went to the highest level of European Football with two Spanish Football Teams that could have claimed the right to win & pass into the semi finals phase of the UEFA Champions League. However, tonight & after this particular game ( & Q/Final tie ) Atletico de Madrid knocks out FC Barcelona from the competition after winning 1 - 0 the 2º leg return match & taking the Q/Final tie 2 - 1 on aggregate.

Atletico de Madrid joins fellow Spanish Club Real Madrid along with Chelsea FC & Bayern Munich in next Fridays draw for the semi-final match-ups. 

The game was intense, with a tremendous physical effort shown by both teams that witness punch after counter-punch until the end. The home crowd of 55.000 screaming Atletico fans was an important factor as they gave wings to their side in the difficult moments. It was simply an extraordinary game of Football, World Class stuff.

Atletico de Madrid started firing with all their ammunition right from the start. Adrian starting for the injured Diego Costa was fully revved up from the first minute. Atletico pressured Barcelona in the midfield & in defence causing mistakes that Atletico converted into goal opportunities. Adrian & David Villa were the main players causing problems for Barça & Villa got onto a ball that KOKE found & headed home for the opener in the 5th min. Atletico de Madrid had Barça rattled & David Villa hit the "wood-work" 3 times in the first half.

However, in front was FC Barcelona & they were not going to give in without a fight. Slowly they took back control of the ball & began looking for their opportunities. They came,  but the Atletico defence was solid along with their outstanding goalkeeper Courtois.

The second half saw Barcelona lift in their game & created during the last 45 minutes three clear occasions take could have equalized the match. Xavi nearly had it & Neymar missed a header that skinned the post. But the physical effort from Barcelona paid its price & they too began "weakening" allowing Atletico de Madrid to lift & get to the goal area. Here Barça goalkeeper Pinto made two outstanding saves ( one in the last moment stopping Cristian Rodriguez) to keep his team in the match & in the quarter-final tie.

With the clock ticking Atletico de Madrid spurred on by the chants of their fans found the extra energy to manage the match & defend every Barça attack thrown at them.  The final whistle came & Atletico was the overall winner. 

To end, a worthy mention to the Atletico de Madrid defence that was outstanding. They stopped virtually everything & the physical effort shown was super-human. The term "team effort" had another definition added tonight in the name Atletico de Madrid. 

Great game of Football, with FC Barcelona losing,  but they too could have been victors if they had taken their chances. Pity only one can only win, tonight the winner was Atletico.