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Barcelona forward Raphinha launched a scathing attack on the refereeing in the Champions League quarterfinal tie as his side was knocked out 3-2 on aggregate by Atletico ‌Madrid on Tuesday, having finished both legs with 10 men.

The Brazilian, sidelined through injury for both matches, ⁠accused referees Clement Turpin, who officiated the second game, and Istvan Kovacs, from the first, of “robbing” his team.

“As far as I’m concerned, it was ‌a robbery, not just this match but the other one (the first leg) as well,” Raphinha told reporters ‌after Barca’s 2-1 win on the night was not enough.

“I ‌think ⁠the refereeing is going really badly; the decisions ⁠he (Turpin) makes are unbelievable … I really want to understand why they’re so afraid that Barcelona will come and win.”

Broadcast images showed Raphinha repeatedly making a grabbing motion with his hands after ‌the final whistle, a gesture commonly associated with “stealing”.

READ: Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach the Champions League semifinals

“It was tough, especially when you realise you have to work three times as hard to win the match,” Raphinha added.

“I think this ‌tie was quite misleading, in my view. I think everyone can make mistakes; everyone is human. But when the mistakes keep repeating themselves in exactly the ⁠same way, I think that’s something we need to pay attention to.”

Reuters has asked UEFA for comment.

In last week’s first leg, Kovacs ‌sent off Pau Cubarsi in the 42nd minute after a VAR review for hauling down Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal, upgrading an initial yellow card.

Atletico scored from the resulting free kick, Julian Alvarez curling into the top right corner beyond Joan Garcia.

On Tuesday, Turpin followed a similar course as ‌Barca defender Garcia was dismissed after a VAR review for holding Alexander Sorloth from behind while he ran through on goal.

Barcelona had lodged a formal complaint, rejected by UEFA, over ⁠an incident early in the second half of the first leg.

The side had ⁠appealed for a penalty after Atletico keeper Juan Musso appeared to put the ball back in play from ‌a goal kick before Marc Pubill handled inside the six-yard box to retake it.

Kovacs waved play on, and VAR did not intervene, prompting angry reactions from the Barcelona bench.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Raphinha #fumes #refereeing #Barcelonas #Champions #League #exit">

Raphinha fumes at refereeing after Barcelona’s Champions League exit Barcelona forward Raphinha launched a scathing attack on the refereeing in the Champions League quarterfinal tie as his side was knocked out 3-2 on aggregate by Atletico ‌Madrid on Tuesday, having finished both legs with 10 men.The Brazilian, sidelined through injury for both matches, ⁠accused referees Clement Turpin, who officiated the second game, and Istvan Kovacs, from the first, of “robbing” his team.“As far as I’m concerned, it was ‌a robbery, not just this match but the other one (the first leg) as well,” Raphinha told reporters ‌after Barca’s 2-1 win on the night was not enough.“I ‌think ⁠the refereeing is going really badly; the decisions ⁠he (Turpin) makes are unbelievable … I really want to understand why they’re so afraid that Barcelona will come and win.”Broadcast images showed Raphinha repeatedly making a grabbing motion with his hands after ‌the final whistle, a gesture commonly associated with “stealing”.READ: Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach the Champions League semifinals“It was tough, especially when you realise you have to work three times as hard to win the match,” Raphinha added.“I think this ‌tie was quite misleading, in my view. I think everyone can make mistakes; everyone is human. But when the mistakes keep repeating themselves in exactly the ⁠same way, I think that’s something we need to pay attention to.”Reuters has asked UEFA for comment.In last week’s first leg, Kovacs ‌sent off Pau Cubarsi in the 42nd minute after a VAR review for hauling down Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal, upgrading an initial yellow card.Atletico scored from the resulting free kick, Julian Alvarez curling into the top right corner beyond Joan Garcia.On Tuesday, Turpin followed a similar course as ‌Barca defender Garcia was dismissed after a VAR review for holding Alexander Sorloth from behind while he ran through on goal.Barcelona had lodged a formal complaint, rejected by UEFA, over ⁠an incident early in the second half of the first leg.The side had ⁠appealed for a penalty after Atletico keeper Juan Musso appeared to put the ball back in play from ‌a goal kick before Marc Pubill handled inside the six-yard box to retake it.Kovacs waved play on, and VAR did not intervene, prompting angry reactions from the Barcelona bench.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #Raphinha #fumes #refereeing #Barcelonas #Champions #League #exit

April 15, 2026

Sports news

Barcelona forward Raphinha launched a scathing attack on the refereeing in the Champions League quarterfinal tie as his side was knocked out 3-2 on aggregate by Atletico ‌Madrid on Tuesday, having finished both legs with 10 men.
The Brazilian, sidelined through injury for both matches, ⁠accused referees Clement Turpin, who officiated the second game, and Istvan Kovacs, from the first, of “robbing” his team.
“As far as I’m concerned, it was ‌a robbery, not just this match but the other one (the first leg) as well,” Raphinha told reporters ‌after Barca’s 2-1 win on the night was not enough.
“I ‌think ⁠the refereeing is going really badly; the decisions ⁠he (Turpin) makes are unbelievable … I really want to understand why they’re so afraid that Barcelona will come and win.”
Broadcast images showed Raphinha repeatedly making a grabbing motion with his hands after ‌the final whistle, a gesture commonly associated with “stealing”.
READ: Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach the Champions League semifinals
“It was tough, especially when you realise you have to work three times as hard to win the match,” Raphinha added.
“I think this ‌tie was quite misleading, in my view. I think everyone can make mistakes; everyone is human. But when the mistakes keep repeating themselves in exactly the ⁠same way, I think that’s something we need to pay attention to.”
Reuters has asked UEFA for comment.
In last week’s first leg, Kovacs ‌sent off Pau Cubarsi in the 42nd minute after a VAR review for hauling down Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal, upgrading an initial yellow card.
Atletico scored from the resulting free kick, Julian Alvarez curling into the top right corner beyond Joan Garcia.
On Tuesday, Turpin followed a similar course as ‌Barca defender Garcia was dismissed after a VAR review for holding Alexander Sorloth from behind while he ran through on goal.
Barcelona had lodged a formal complaint, rejected by UEFA, over ⁠an incident early in the second half of the first leg.
The side had ⁠appealed for a penalty after Atletico keeper Juan Musso appeared to put the ball back in play from ‌a goal kick before Marc Pubill handled inside the six-yard box to retake it.
Kovacs waved play on, and VAR did not intervene, prompting angry reactions from the Barcelona bench.
Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Raphinha #fumes #refereeing #Barcelonas #Champions #League #exit">Raphinha fumes at refereeing after Barcelona’s Champions League exit

The Brazilian, sidelined through injury for both matches, ⁠accused referees Clement Turpin, who officiated the second game, and Istvan Kovacs, from the first, of “robbing” his team.

“As far as I’m concerned, it was ‌a robbery, not just this match but the other one (the first leg) as well,” Raphinha told reporters ‌after Barca’s 2-1 win on the night was not enough.

“I ‌think ⁠the refereeing is going really badly; the decisions ⁠he (Turpin) makes are unbelievable … I really want to understand why they’re so afraid that Barcelona will come and win.”

Broadcast images showed Raphinha repeatedly making a grabbing motion with his hands after ‌the final whistle, a gesture commonly associated with “stealing”.

READ: Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach the Champions League semifinals

“It was tough, especially when you realise you have to work three times as hard to win the match,” Raphinha added.

Reuters has asked UEFA for comment.

In last week’s first leg, Kovacs ‌sent off Pau Cubarsi in the 42nd minute after a VAR review for hauling down Giuliano Simeone as he raced clear on goal, upgrading an initial yellow card.

Atletico scored from the resulting free kick, Julian Alvarez curling into the top right corner beyond Joan Garcia.

On Tuesday, Turpin followed a similar course as ‌Barca defender Garcia was dismissed after a VAR review for holding Alexander Sorloth from behind while he ran through on goal.

Barcelona had lodged a formal complaint, rejected by UEFA, over ⁠an incident early in the second half of the first leg.

The side had ⁠appealed for a penalty after Atletico keeper Juan Musso appeared to put the ball back in play from ‌a goal kick before Marc Pubill handled inside the six-yard box to retake it.

Kovacs waved play on, and VAR did not intervene, prompting angry reactions from the Barcelona bench.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#Raphinha #fumes #refereeing #Barcelonas #Champions #League #exit

Barcelona forward Raphinha launched a scathing attack on the refereeing in the Champions League quarterfinal…

Paris Saint-Germain’s grip on the Champions League trophy remains strong.

The defending champion advanced to the semifinals of European club football’s biggest competition by dumping out six-time winner Liverpool on Tuesday.

A 2-0 win at Anfield sealed a 4-0 aggregate victory and moved PSG a step closer to becoming only the second club to retain the trophy in the modern era after Real Madrid.

“It’s difficult to defend the Champions League, we know that,” said coach Luis Enrique. “We are here again and we need to make the most of these opportunities.”

Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Debele scored two second-half goals to kill off Liverpool’s fight and book a semifinal clash against either Bayern Munich or Madrid.

Also on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid advanced to the semifinals after a 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona.

It takes something special to hold onto the Champions League, and PSG is a special team. Madrid won a hat trick of titles between 2016-18, but no other team has managed back-to-back wins since the European Cup was rebranded in 1992.

PSG is out to make history after ending its long wait to conquer Europe for the first time last year. It is the second time in as many seasons that the French giant has knocked out Liverpool, which was in search of another famous Champions League comeback and has dominated PSG for periods.

“It is a real pleasure for me to know that my team is at that level and can play at that level, no matter who they are playing against,” said Enrique, a two-time Champions League-winning coach, having triumphed with Barcelona as well. “You can see what sort of team we are, what players I’ve got. We’ve got confidence and belief. It’s wonderful to be living this experience with this team.”

Dembele’s first goal ended Liverpool’s hopes — a left-footed shot from the edge of the area in the 72nd minute. His second came at the end of a sweeping move in stoppage time.

Dembele had been guilty of wasting chances in the first leg to effectively put the tie to bed, and he failed to capitalise on two more first-half opportunities to put the French champion further ahead at Anfield.

But his opening goal was dispatched with precision—nestling in the bottom corner. His second was a clinical finish from close range.

Liverpool had been dominated in Paris last week. But the Merseyside club knows all about comebacks in this competition.

It was 3-0 down to AC Milan in the 2005 final and powered back to win on penalties. More recently, it routed Barcelona 4-0 in the 2019 semifinals to overturn a 3-0 first-leg loss and go on to lift the trophy.

Anfield is famed for its white-hot atmosphere, especially on European nights, and the PSG team bus was greeted by red flares as it approached the ground. But inside, the French fans more than held their own—singing loudly in the away section as the home crowd seemed strangely subdued at times.

Liverpool had its chances despite losing Hugo Ekitike to an early injury. Virgil van Dijk was denied a first-half tap-in when Marquinhos pulled off a last-ditch block.

In the second half, belief among the home fans began to grow as Liverpool applied the pressure.

And a comeback looked on when referee Maurizio Mariani pointed to the spot for a foul by Willian Pacho on Alexis Mac Allister shortly after the hour.

With the score at 0-0, the first half was the chance to test PSG’s resolve. But celebrations soon turned to disappointment when the penalty was overturned after review.

“We are very disappointed because I think there were parts in the second half where you could just feel that if we could score now, this was going to become a special night,” said Liverpool coach Arne Slot. “But the future looks very bright for this team, for this club, because we’ve shown that we can compete with the champions of Europe in our stadium.”

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Paris #SaintGermain #beats #Liverpool #reach #semifinals">

UEFA Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain beats Liverpool to reach semifinals Paris Saint-Germain’s grip on the Champions League trophy remains strong.The defending champion advanced to the semifinals of European club football’s biggest competition by dumping out six-time winner Liverpool on Tuesday.A 2-0 win at Anfield sealed a 4-0 aggregate victory and moved PSG a step closer to becoming only the second club to retain the trophy in the modern era after Real Madrid.“It’s difficult to defend the Champions League, we know that,” said coach Luis Enrique. “We are here again and we need to make the most of these opportunities.”Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Debele scored two second-half goals to kill off Liverpool’s fight and book a semifinal clash against either Bayern Munich or Madrid.Also on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid advanced to the semifinals after a 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona.It takes something special to hold onto the Champions League, and PSG is a special team. Madrid won a hat trick of titles between 2016-18, but no other team has managed back-to-back wins since the European Cup was rebranded in 1992.PSG is out to make history after ending its long wait to conquer Europe for the first time last year. It is the second time in as many seasons that the French giant has knocked out Liverpool, which was in search of another famous Champions League comeback and has dominated PSG for periods.“It is a real pleasure for me to know that my team is at that level and can play at that level, no matter who they are playing against,” said Enrique, a two-time Champions League-winning coach, having triumphed with Barcelona as well. “You can see what sort of team we are, what players I’ve got. We’ve got confidence and belief. It’s wonderful to be living this experience with this team.”Dembele’s first goal ended Liverpool’s hopes — a left-footed shot from the edge of the area in the 72nd minute. His second came at the end of a sweeping move in stoppage time.Dembele had been guilty of wasting chances in the first leg to effectively put the tie to bed, and he failed to capitalise on two more first-half opportunities to put the French champion further ahead at Anfield.But his opening goal was dispatched with precision—nestling in the bottom corner. His second was a clinical finish from close range.Liverpool had been dominated in Paris last week. But the Merseyside club knows all about comebacks in this competition.It was 3-0 down to AC Milan in the 2005 final and powered back to win on penalties. More recently, it routed Barcelona 4-0 in the 2019 semifinals to overturn a 3-0 first-leg loss and go on to lift the trophy.Anfield is famed for its white-hot atmosphere, especially on European nights, and the PSG team bus was greeted by red flares as it approached the ground. But inside, the French fans more than held their own—singing loudly in the away section as the home crowd seemed strangely subdued at times.Liverpool had its chances despite losing Hugo Ekitike to an early injury. Virgil van Dijk was denied a first-half tap-in when Marquinhos pulled off a last-ditch block.In the second half, belief among the home fans began to grow as Liverpool applied the pressure.And a comeback looked on when referee Maurizio Mariani pointed to the spot for a foul by Willian Pacho on Alexis Mac Allister shortly after the hour.With the score at 0-0, the first half was the chance to test PSG’s resolve. But celebrations soon turned to disappointment when the penalty was overturned after review.“We are very disappointed because I think there were parts in the second half where you could just feel that if we could score now, this was going to become a special night,” said Liverpool coach Arne Slot. “But the future looks very bright for this team, for this club, because we’ve shown that we can compete with the champions of Europe in our stadium.”Published on Apr 15, 2026 #UEFA #Champions #League #Paris #SaintGermain #beats #Liverpool #reach #semifinals

April 15, 2026

Sports news

Paris Saint-Germain’s grip on the Champions League trophy remains strong.
The defending champion advanced to the semifinals of European club football’s biggest competition by dumping out six-time winner Liverpool on Tuesday.
A 2-0 win at Anfield sealed a 4-0 aggregate victory and moved PSG a step closer to becoming only the second club to retain the trophy in the modern era after Real Madrid.
“It’s difficult to defend the Champions League, we know that,” said coach Luis Enrique. “We are here again and we need to make the most of these opportunities.”
Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Debele scored two second-half goals to kill off Liverpool’s fight and book a semifinal clash against either Bayern Munich or Madrid.
Also on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid advanced to the semifinals after a 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona.
It takes something special to hold onto the Champions League, and PSG is a special team. Madrid won a hat trick of titles between 2016-18, but no other team has managed back-to-back wins since the European Cup was rebranded in 1992.
PSG is out to make history after ending its long wait to conquer Europe for the first time last year. It is the second time in as many seasons that the French giant has knocked out Liverpool, which was in search of another famous Champions League comeback and has dominated PSG for periods.
“It is a real pleasure for me to know that my team is at that level and can play at that level, no matter who they are playing against,” said Enrique, a two-time Champions League-winning coach, having triumphed with Barcelona as well. “You can see what sort of team we are, what players I’ve got. We’ve got confidence and belief. It’s wonderful to be living this experience with this team.”
Dembele’s first goal ended Liverpool’s hopes — a left-footed shot from the edge of the area in the 72nd minute. His second came at the end of a sweeping move in stoppage time.
Dembele had been guilty of wasting chances in the first leg to effectively put the tie to bed, and he failed to capitalise on two more first-half opportunities to put the French champion further ahead at Anfield.
But his opening goal was dispatched with precision—nestling in the bottom corner. His second was a clinical finish from close range.
Liverpool had been dominated in Paris last week. But the Merseyside club knows all about comebacks in this competition.
It was 3-0 down to AC Milan in the 2005 final and powered back to win on penalties. More recently, it routed Barcelona 4-0 in the 2019 semifinals to overturn a 3-0 first-leg loss and go on to lift the trophy.
Anfield is famed for its white-hot atmosphere, especially on European nights, and the PSG team bus was greeted by red flares as it approached the ground. But inside, the French fans more than held their own—singing loudly in the away section as the home crowd seemed strangely subdued at times.
Liverpool had its chances despite losing Hugo Ekitike to an early injury. Virgil van Dijk was denied a first-half tap-in when Marquinhos pulled off a last-ditch block.
In the second half, belief among the home fans began to grow as Liverpool applied the pressure.
And a comeback looked on when referee Maurizio Mariani pointed to the spot for a foul by Willian Pacho on Alexis Mac Allister shortly after the hour.
With the score at 0-0, the first half was the chance to test PSG’s resolve. But celebrations soon turned to disappointment when the penalty was overturned after review.
“We are very disappointed because I think there were parts in the second half where you could just feel that if we could score now, this was going to become a special night,” said Liverpool coach Arne Slot. “But the future looks very bright for this team, for this club, because we’ve shown that we can compete with the champions of Europe in our stadium.”
Published on Apr 15, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Paris #SaintGermain #beats #Liverpool #reach #semifinals">UEFA Champions League: Paris Saint-Germain beats Liverpool to reach semifinals

Paris Saint-Germain’s grip on the Champions League trophy remains strong.

The defending champion advanced to the semifinals of European club football’s biggest competition by dumping out six-time winner Liverpool on Tuesday.

A 2-0 win at Anfield sealed a 4-0 aggregate victory and moved PSG a step closer to becoming only the second club to retain the trophy in the modern era after Real Madrid.

“It’s difficult to defend the Champions League, we know that,” said coach Luis Enrique. “We are here again and we need to make the most of these opportunities.”

Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Debele scored two second-half goals to kill off Liverpool’s fight and book a semifinal clash against either Bayern Munich or Madrid.

Also on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid advanced to the semifinals after a 3-2 aggregate win over Barcelona.

Dembele’s first goal ended Liverpool’s hopes — a left-footed shot from the edge of the area in the 72nd minute. His second came at the end of a sweeping move in stoppage time.

But his opening goal was dispatched with precision—nestling in the bottom corner. His second was a clinical finish from close range.

Liverpool had been dominated in Paris last week. But the Merseyside club knows all about comebacks in this competition.

Liverpool had its chances despite losing Hugo Ekitike to an early injury. Virgil van Dijk was denied a first-half tap-in when Marquinhos pulled off a last-ditch block.

In the second half, belief among the home fans began to grow as Liverpool applied the pressure.

And a comeback looked on when referee Maurizio Mariani pointed to the spot for a foul by Willian Pacho on Alexis Mac Allister shortly after the hour.

With the score at 0-0, the first half was the chance to test PSG’s resolve. But celebrations soon turned to disappointment when the penalty was overturned after review.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Paris #SaintGermain #beats #Liverpool #reach #semifinals

Paris Saint-Germain’s grip on the Champions League trophy remains strong.The defending champion advanced to the…

Long after the game against Barcelona ended, the Atletico Madrid players came back on the field at the Metropolitano Stadium to celebrate.

They chanted along with the fans and jumped and danced.

It was a big night for them.

Diego Simeone’s team held on after an early charge by Barcelona to make it back to the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time in nearly a decade.

Atletico lost 2-1 but advanced 3-2 on aggregate after having won the first leg 2-0 in Barcelona last week. It will be the team’s first last-four appearance in the European competition since 2017.

“To play in a Champions League semifinal, how nice, how nice…” said Simeone, who was visibly moved after the thrilling back-and-forth game.

“It’s been 14 years and honestly, seeing the team still competing really moves me,” Simeone said. “The players have changed, we’ve had to start over many times, and yet here we are again among the top four in Europe.”

Simeone has been in charge of the club since late 2011. Atletico, seeking its first Champions League title, lost in the 2017 semifinals to Real Madrid. It also lost to its city rival in both finals it played in 2014 and 2016.

Barcelona, trying to return to the last four for the second season in a row, scored twice in the first 24 minutes to even the series, with Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres finding the net.

Atletico struck back still in the first half with a goal by Ademola Lookman.

The Catalan club played a man down from the 79th after defender Eric García was shown a red card for fouling Alexander Sorloth to stop a breakaway.

“We played a very good match, we gave our lives out there, we tried everything,” Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong said. “Luck wasn’t on our side this time. When you go a man down, it’s always harder.”

Atletico will face either Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon in the semifinals. Arsenal won the first leg 1-0 in Lisbon last week. Its second leg in London is on Wednesday.

“Extremely happy to eliminate a Barcelona team that has a lot of quality,” Atletico midfielder Koke said. “We struggled in the beginning, but we found a way to recover. It was a great effort by the entire team.”

In the other quarterfinal on Tuesday, defending champion Paris Saint-Germain advanced past Liverpool, winning 2-0 for an aggregate score of 4-0.

The game in Madrid was stopped for several moments near the 70th minute because Atletico defender Matteo Ruggieri sustained a cut on his forehead after being elbowed by Barcelona midfielder Gavi during a dispute for the ball.

Yamal opened the scoring four minutes into the match at Metropolitano Stadium, entering the area free from defenders after Atletico lost possession on a passing mistake by defender Clément Lenglet.

With his goal, Yamal became the top Champions League scorer under the age of 19 with 11, one more than Kylian Mbappé.

The visitor added to the lead on the night—levelling the tie at 2-2—in the 24th, with Torres picking up a through ball by Dani Olmo and finding the top corner by the far post.

Fermín López nearly added the third a minute later, but his close-range header was saved by Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso.

The host struck back in the 31st, with Lookman scoring from inside the area in a breakaway after a low cross by Marcos Llorente.

Barcelona thought it had equalised the series again, but Torres’ 57th-minute goal was disallowed for offside.

Defender Ronald Araujo had Barcelona’s last chance, but his close-range header in stoppage time went over the crossbar.

“We’re disappointed. We had plenty of chances, especially in the first half. We had the chance to score a third goal; instead, we conceded,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. “That’s just how football is. We need to do better, but in the end, in terms of mentality and attitude, the team gave it their all. They did a fantastic job, but we just didn’t come through.”

Simeone kept Musso in goal instead of promoting the return of regular starter Jan Oblak, who has recovered from a muscle injury but hasn’t played since March 10.

Atletico can cap its week with the Copa del Rey title on Saturday. It will face Real Sociedad to try to win the competition for the first time since 2013.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Atletico #Madrid #withstands #Barcelonas #early #blitz #reach #semifinals">

UEFA Champions League: Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach semifinals Long after the game against Barcelona ended, the Atletico Madrid players came back on the field at the Metropolitano Stadium to celebrate.They chanted along with the fans and jumped and danced.It was a big night for them.Diego Simeone’s team held on after an early charge by Barcelona to make it back to the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time in nearly a decade.Atletico lost 2-1 but advanced 3-2 on aggregate after having won the first leg 2-0 in Barcelona last week. It will be the team’s first last-four appearance in the European competition since 2017.“To play in a Champions League semifinal, how nice, how nice…” said Simeone, who was visibly moved after the thrilling back-and-forth game.“It’s been 14 years and honestly, seeing the team still competing really moves me,” Simeone said. “The players have changed, we’ve had to start over many times, and yet here we are again among the top four in Europe.”Simeone has been in charge of the club since late 2011. Atletico, seeking its first Champions League title, lost in the 2017 semifinals to Real Madrid. It also lost to its city rival in both finals it played in 2014 and 2016.Barcelona, trying to return to the last four for the second season in a row, scored twice in the first 24 minutes to even the series, with Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres finding the net.Atletico struck back still in the first half with a goal by Ademola Lookman.The Catalan club played a man down from the 79th after defender Eric García was shown a red card for fouling Alexander Sorloth to stop a breakaway.“We played a very good match, we gave our lives out there, we tried everything,” Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong said. “Luck wasn’t on our side this time. When you go a man down, it’s always harder.”Atletico will face either Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon in the semifinals. Arsenal won the first leg 1-0 in Lisbon last week. Its second leg in London is on Wednesday.“Extremely happy to eliminate a Barcelona team that has a lot of quality,” Atletico midfielder Koke said. “We struggled in the beginning, but we found a way to recover. It was a great effort by the entire team.”In the other quarterfinal on Tuesday, defending champion Paris Saint-Germain advanced past Liverpool, winning 2-0 for an aggregate score of 4-0.The game in Madrid was stopped for several moments near the 70th minute because Atletico defender Matteo Ruggieri sustained a cut on his forehead after being elbowed by Barcelona midfielder Gavi during a dispute for the ball.Yamal opened the scoring four minutes into the match at Metropolitano Stadium, entering the area free from defenders after Atletico lost possession on a passing mistake by defender Clément Lenglet.With his goal, Yamal became the top Champions League scorer under the age of 19 with 11, one more than Kylian Mbappé.The visitor added to the lead on the night—levelling the tie at 2-2—in the 24th, with Torres picking up a through ball by Dani Olmo and finding the top corner by the far post.Fermín López nearly added the third a minute later, but his close-range header was saved by Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso.The host struck back in the 31st, with Lookman scoring from inside the area in a breakaway after a low cross by Marcos Llorente.Barcelona thought it had equalised the series again, but Torres’ 57th-minute goal was disallowed for offside.Defender Ronald Araujo had Barcelona’s last chance, but his close-range header in stoppage time went over the crossbar.“We’re disappointed. We had plenty of chances, especially in the first half. We had the chance to score a third goal; instead, we conceded,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. “That’s just how football is. We need to do better, but in the end, in terms of mentality and attitude, the team gave it their all. They did a fantastic job, but we just didn’t come through.”Simeone kept Musso in goal instead of promoting the return of regular starter Jan Oblak, who has recovered from a muscle injury but hasn’t played since March 10.Atletico can cap its week with the Copa del Rey title on Saturday. It will face Real Sociedad to try to win the competition for the first time since 2013.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #UEFA #Champions #League #Atletico #Madrid #withstands #Barcelonas #early #blitz #reach #semifinals

April 15, 2026

Sports news

Long after the game against Barcelona ended, the Atletico Madrid players came back on the field at the Metropolitano Stadium to celebrate.
They chanted along with the fans and jumped and danced.
It was a big night for them.
Diego Simeone’s team held on after an early charge by Barcelona to make it back to the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time in nearly a decade.
Atletico lost 2-1 but advanced 3-2 on aggregate after having won the first leg 2-0 in Barcelona last week. It will be the team’s first last-four appearance in the European competition since 2017.
“To play in a Champions League semifinal, how nice, how nice…” said Simeone, who was visibly moved after the thrilling back-and-forth game.
“It’s been 14 years and honestly, seeing the team still competing really moves me,” Simeone said. “The players have changed, we’ve had to start over many times, and yet here we are again among the top four in Europe.”
Simeone has been in charge of the club since late 2011. Atletico, seeking its first Champions League title, lost in the 2017 semifinals to Real Madrid. It also lost to its city rival in both finals it played in 2014 and 2016.
Barcelona, trying to return to the last four for the second season in a row, scored twice in the first 24 minutes to even the series, with Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres finding the net.
Atletico struck back still in the first half with a goal by Ademola Lookman.
The Catalan club played a man down from the 79th after defender Eric García was shown a red card for fouling Alexander Sorloth to stop a breakaway.
“We played a very good match, we gave our lives out there, we tried everything,” Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong said. “Luck wasn’t on our side this time. When you go a man down, it’s always harder.”
Atletico will face either Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon in the semifinals. Arsenal won the first leg 1-0 in Lisbon last week. Its second leg in London is on Wednesday.
“Extremely happy to eliminate a Barcelona team that has a lot of quality,” Atletico midfielder Koke said. “We struggled in the beginning, but we found a way to recover. It was a great effort by the entire team.”
In the other quarterfinal on Tuesday, defending champion Paris Saint-Germain advanced past Liverpool, winning 2-0 for an aggregate score of 4-0.
The game in Madrid was stopped for several moments near the 70th minute because Atletico defender Matteo Ruggieri sustained a cut on his forehead after being elbowed by Barcelona midfielder Gavi during a dispute for the ball.
Yamal opened the scoring four minutes into the match at Metropolitano Stadium, entering the area free from defenders after Atletico lost possession on a passing mistake by defender Clément Lenglet.
With his goal, Yamal became the top Champions League scorer under the age of 19 with 11, one more than Kylian Mbappé.
The visitor added to the lead on the night—levelling the tie at 2-2—in the 24th, with Torres picking up a through ball by Dani Olmo and finding the top corner by the far post.
Fermín López nearly added the third a minute later, but his close-range header was saved by Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso.
The host struck back in the 31st, with Lookman scoring from inside the area in a breakaway after a low cross by Marcos Llorente.
Barcelona thought it had equalised the series again, but Torres’ 57th-minute goal was disallowed for offside.
Defender Ronald Araujo had Barcelona’s last chance, but his close-range header in stoppage time went over the crossbar.
“We’re disappointed. We had plenty of chances, especially in the first half. We had the chance to score a third goal; instead, we conceded,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. “That’s just how football is. We need to do better, but in the end, in terms of mentality and attitude, the team gave it their all. They did a fantastic job, but we just didn’t come through.”
Simeone kept Musso in goal instead of promoting the return of regular starter Jan Oblak, who has recovered from a muscle injury but hasn’t played since March 10.
Atletico can cap its week with the Copa del Rey title on Saturday. It will face Real Sociedad to try to win the competition for the first time since 2013.
Published on Apr 15, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Atletico #Madrid #withstands #Barcelonas #early #blitz #reach #semifinals">UEFA Champions League: Atletico Madrid withstands Barcelona’s early blitz to reach semifinals