Sergio Aguero backs Atletico Madrid to beat Barcelona and join Manchester City in Champions League semi-finals

The Argentinian forward believes his former club can eliminate the tournament's favourites

Aguero's City have progressed to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time (Getty)

Sergio Aguero has backed Atletico Madrid to blow the Champions League wide open on Wednesday by defeating Barcelona to join Manchester City in the semi-finals.

Despite a missed Aguero penalty during Tuesday’s quarter-final second-leg victory against Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium, City progressed to the Champions League last four for the first time courtesy of Kevin De Bruyne’s late winner against the French champions.

With Real Madrid overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit against Wolfsburg to win 3-0 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate, City are already faced with the prospect of a semi-final tie against Cristiano Ronaldo and co. later this month.

But with Barcelona travelling to the Vicente Calderon tonight knowing that a 1-0 Atletico victory will take Diego Simeone’s team through at their expense, former Atleti forward Aguero claims his old club can eliminate the favourites and progress to the semis.

“I obviously hope the best team goes through, but Atleti, in the last few years, have improved a lot and I think they can give Barcelona a really tough game,” Aguero said. “I played for Atletico and I want them to do well.

“They are playing really well and additionally they have an Argentine in charge in El Cholo (Simeone).

“I am happy with how he has taken Atletico forward and I hope he can keep doing so.”

City will go into Friday’s semi-final draw as underdogs, unless Benfica unexpectedly join them in the last four by defeating Bayern Munich in Lisbon tonight.

But with the final in Milan now potentially just 180 minutes away, Aguero claims that City can send off manager Manuel Pellegrini with success in the competition.

“We know that Pellegrini won't be here for the next season, so to be in the semis is something really amazing,” Aguero said. “It gives us great pride to take City to this level.

“This was our goal, to be among the four best teams in the Champions League and now we want to keep growing.

“The confidence is there, we are in semis and anything can happen.

“We will be at our maximum, depending on who we play against, but we will be going all out to win it.

“It is important for Pellegrini and for all of us, but obviously it is important for him because he knows he won’t be here for next season.

“I imagine he must be very happy, very pleased. I hope we can go even further.

“At this point you cannot choose an opponent. To win the Champions League you have to play against the best and we were up against one of those in PSG, a favourite.

“Now we'll have to see who the other candidates are, but we know it will be tough.”