Atlético Madrid are through to a historic semi-final in the UEFA Champions League — their first since 2017 — after overcoming FC Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate.
Barça raced into a two-goal lead, nullifying the Atleti advantage from the first leg, with goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferrán Torres, but an Ademola Lookman finish before half-time was enough for Diego Simeone’s side to progress.
A late red card for Eric García conditioned the final proceedings of the game, but Atleti won’t mind one bit about how
they’ve gotten through, the important thing is that they are.
Here are Into the Calderón’s player ratings for this monumental night.
Player Ratings
Juan Musso: The big dog let the ball slip under his legs in Yamal’s opener and probably left a little too much goal showing to Ferrán, but from then on put in a commanding display. This was the first time in a LALIGA or Champions League match where he started ahead of a fit Jan Oblak, and his place in the team is absolutely deserved, given the magnitude of what he’s been involved in of late. 7
Nahuel Molina: Nahuelito, que bueno que viniste. A relief that his opposite number was Fermín López and not Raphinha, but the Argentine still had a job to do, and he did it brilliantly. There was a moment where he overcommitted and left himself open, but other than that put every one of his funnily-trodden steps in the right place. 8
Robin Le Normand: The chance that fell to him a little after 70 minutes looked to be the moment to send the Metropolitano into a frenzy, only for Joan García to make a miraculous save. A minute later and the Spaniard was unlucky not to see a header hit the target too. It was he who played Yamal onside for the first goal, although there was little fault of his for that, but had the head strength to remain diligent at the back against a hungry-for-more Barcelona side. 7
Clément Lenglet: “Calamity” is the nickname given to him in a certain WhatsApp group that I’m in and my word did he live up to that today. An inexplicable error that set the night up for far more suffering than it ever needed to have, followed by a half-arsed piece of defending to put the tie level. Unapologetically, I want him sold in the summer and never have to deal with him again. Unfortunately, I feel there’s another appearance on the cards before the end of the season for Clem. In fairness, his last 65 minutes were up to the standard, but his first 25 almost cost this fanbase another chance to dream. 4
Matteo Ruggeri: Anyone who finishes a match with a bandage strapped around their head can easily be considered a hero, but this guy’s treatment of Yamal makes him one anyway. Commentators on TNT Sports rightfully mentioned our recent apology article to Ruggeri, giving the wider international audience a chance to see the chuntering beast of a locomotive deny the world’s best player any inroads on his right-sided track. 8
Giuliano Simeone: We didn’t get the opportunity to see a lung-busting run through the middle as we have done in the recent Atleti-Barça duels, perhaps a sign of Barcelona learning how to neutralise that threat that brought a goal in LALIGA and the red card/free-kick moment in the first leg of this tie. Otherwise, it was a Giuliano that you’d expect to see in a game like this, leaving everything out there, but maybe lacking that bit of finesse in his touch and passing. 6
Koke: For a side to come back from a gut-wrenching opening to such an important game, they must be led by someone who is more than a leader. Koke is a legend, not just a leader, and he was key to the temperament of his players, transmitting exactly what Simeone wanted from the sideline to the rest of his colleagues. How grateful we are to have you once again with us to go for glory, Jorgito. 8
Marcos Llorente: A beneficiary of a good Molina is an unhinged Llorente. He was quite literally everywhere, involved in some match-winning blocks and clearances, and of course providing the inch-perfect pass for the all-important moment of the tie. The longer the hair grows, the stronger he gets. Trust me. 8
Ademola Lookman: In recent matches it’s felt like we haven’t seen Lookman be as involved in the play, through no fault of his own, but tonight there was a clear game plan, and it had a lot to do with the Nigerian. Aside from his well taken goal, he looked a man with desire to deliver something big for his team, and his performance suggested that too. He wanted this just as much as any Atleti player or fan which speaks volumes of someone who arrived only in January. Taken off early which perhaps conditions his rating. 7
Antoine Griezmann: Another masterful game from El Principito, blending his usual delicacy with a tireless work ethic, filling in any defensive role necessary. His departure was necessary for Alexander Sørloth to enter the field of play, but it felt illogical given the way he was playing — the free-kick delivered onto the head of Le Normand moments before being substituted evidence of that. 8
Julián Alvarez: It feels wrong to criticise the man given the good vibes and overall result, but he was half a beat off the pace tonight. His work ethic and commitment to the team was second to none, but on a different day a few more passes would come good and he’d probably be celebrating a goal too. He’s just saving himself for this weekend, lads. 6
Substitutes
Nico González: Once again put on the right hand side away from Yamal, and it was the correct thing to do. Had a chance to wrap things up which he saw go agonisingly wide. 6
Álex Baena: Another one who had a chance to seal it, albeit from distance, but ended up snatching at the shot. I thought he controlled the pace of play well after the sending off. 6
Alexander Sørloth: Provoking the red card was a huge moment and the Norwegian took his opportunity to do so. Realistically, he isn’t getting pushed over that easily, but footballers will always be footballers, eh. 6
