Atletico oust Barcelona

Football Champions League

Atletico Madrid dumped holders Barcelona out of the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage for the second time in three seasons as Antoine Griezmann’s double sealed a 2-0 win 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 last night.

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.

Atletico will be joined by local rivals Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich in Friday’s semifinal 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.

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.

Atletico had two more chances to extend their advantage early in the second period as Koke’s cut-back was cut out by Gerard Pique with Griezmann waiting for a tap in.

And then as Barca struggled to clear a corner, Niguez’s looping header came back off the crossbar with Ter Stegen stranded.

However, Barca began to impose themselves in the final half-hour as Atletico tired and Suarez tested Oblak with a fierce effort from inside the area that the Slovenian handled impressively.

Iniesta was also lucky not to be sent-off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity as he blocked Filipe Luis’s pass into Griezmann’s path for the penalty.

The French international kept his head to slot home the resulting spot-kick.

Bayern see off Benfica

Bayern Munich came out on top in an entertaining last-eight clash with Benfica, reaching the last-four stage with a 3-2 aggregate victory, after a second-leg 2-2 draw in Lisbon.

After a slow start to the game, Benfica drew back onto level terms in the tie in the 27th minute, as Raul Jimenez escaped the Bayern defence to nod past Manuel Neuer.

But Vidal smashed home his second goal of the quarterfinal tie seven minutes before half-time to leave Benfica needing two unanswered goals to progress. Roared on by the crowd, the hosts started quickly and after Vidal headed tamely at Ederson Moraes, Benfica struck almost from nowhere.

And just when the Portuguese champions were starting to gain a measure of control, Lahm’s cross was only palmed as far as Vidal by stand-in goalkeeper Ederson, and the Chilean did the rest with a thumping left-footed finish.