Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Champions League match report: Antoine Griezmann knocks holders out

Atletico Madrid advance to semi-final stage 3-2 on aggregate after overturning first-leg defeat

Antoine Griezmann celebrates his first goal (Getty)

Atletico Madrid knocked the holders Barcelona out of the Champions League and their manager Diego Simeone then declared: "We are not thinking about anything other than winning the tournament".

Few would back against them after they brushed aside Barcelona for the second time in three seasons. Three weeks ago all the talk was of Leo Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. They will now be watching Antoine Griezmann in the semi-final after his two goals overturned Barça’s first-leg advantage.

Griezmann has now scored ten in his last ten games. On the day that it was confirmed Karim Benzema will not be at the Euros for hosts France he showed they have plenty of options as they look to replace him.

His first half header levelled the tie on aggregate and his second half penalty, after Andreas Iniesta handled in the area, made sure there was no need for the away goals rule.

Barcelona supporters will point to a late Gabi handball that was inside the area but given outside but Luis Enrique made little of bad luck in his post-match analysis.

"It was one of the targets for this season and the players are sad," he said as the treble chance died and the opportunity to be the first team to win back-to-back Champions League went with it.

While Barça trudged off having seen their season reduced to the chances of a domestic double the Atletico Madrid players came back out onto the pitch five minutes after the full-time whistle and found the stadium still full to celebrate with them.

They had only needed one goal to qualify and it had come ten minutes before the break with Jordi Alba playing a sloppy pass straight to Saul Ñiquez who crossed for Griezmann to head past Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

It was the perfect time to score sending Luis Enrique’s team down the tunnel fearing the worst. "We expected them to come on to us more," the Barça manager said.

Barcelona now needed to chase the game and Suarez immediately clattered into Godin just before the break. Atletico Madrid players swarmed to protest and Suarez was buffeted between Gabi and Juanfran – the Uruguayan at least had come ready for a battle.

Atletico kept up the pressure in the second half and Saul headed their first chance onto the bar from a corner. At the other end there was still no news of Messi and his South American team-mate Neymar was just as quiet. The recent international break looked to have been the worst thing that happened to both of them.

Barcelona threw Gerard Pique forward and Atletico poured into the gaps he left behind. Ter Stegen had to save well at his near post for a Griezmann breakway but could do nothing when he had the chance to double the lead from the spot.

Lionel Messi (Getty)

Andres Iniesta handled in the area and the Frenchman stepped up to make it 2-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.

Barcleona had no response. Arda Turan and Sergio Roberto had come on in the second period and Suarez had forced Oblak into a fine save. He then elbowed Godin and picked up a yellow card. That clash left the defender bruised but it was Barça who were well and truly beaten.

"We never stopped believing," said a jubilant Simeone. "We work according to our beliefs. The second half was more difficult but we stayed strong. It’s wonderful to watch from the touchline just how happy the result made our supporters."

Simeone likes to refer to his side as Europe’s nuisance team and once again they had got under Barcelona’s skin knocking them out for the second time in three years.

There were suggestions at the end of the game that Gerard Pique had argued with the Atletico coach en route to the dressing rooms over the hand ball not given at the end. Just as Atletico had to accept getting the worst of the decisions in the first leg so it had fallen Barça’s way now. They were out and the Simone inspired Atletico miracle shows no signs of fading.