Atletico 2 - 1 Real Madrid: As it happened, goals, action, match report
Saúl and Griezmann scored early to give Atlético hope of a comeback, but Isco stabbed home a rebound before half time to assure Madrid's path to Cardiff.
Atlético Madrid 2 - 1 Real Madrid (2-4 agg): match report
Fernando Torres barked a volley of insults at Cristiano Ronaldo, leaning beyond the referee to ensure the Portuguese received the full force of his frustration. Ronaldo just grinned back at him, teeth shining beneath the Calderón floodlights. That exchange, just before half time, encapsulated Atlético Madrid's victory against Real Madrid, which was ultimately insufficient to prevent Champions League elimination. The home side growled, they were full of fervour. But Real Madrid stayed cool to inflict a fourth consecutive European defeat on their city rivals.
Despite early goals from Saúl and Griezmann, Isco's close-range strike just before the break calmed Madrid's nerves, and steered them through to a Champions League final against Juventus in Cardiff on June 3rd.
Atlético were valiant and dogged. They bid farewell to the Champions League, and the Estadio Vicente Calderón, with their heads held high.
On a night where the Calderón fizzled with atmosphere, it looked for a while like Atlético might complete the challenge that they had set themselves with a 3-0 defeat in the first leg. Simeone's team flew frenetically out of the blocks. They played to the beat of their fans, who before kick off had held up a defiant display: 'Proud to not be like you', directed at their city rivals.
With 12 minutes on the clock, Saúl rose higher than the Madrid defence to guide Yannick Carrasco's corner beyond a desperate Keylor Navas. It was just the start that Atlético needed.
Four minutes later, Fernando Torres drew a foul from Varane inside the box. The Frenchman clipped his heels as Torres sought to carve out space to shoot, and the referee pointed to the spot. Antoine Griezmann struck a poor penalty. It wasn't particularly powerful, and it wasn't particularly well placed. But as the ball pushed past Keylor Navas' outstretched palm, the Calderón did not care one jot. The comeback was on.
The game began to settle down after a gung-ho start. Real Madrid found their feet, and felt their way in to the match as play became increasingly scrappy. After 42 minutes, Zidane's side scored that crucial away goal. Karim Benzema faced up against three Atlético defenders by the corner flag. The Frenchman shuffled the ball from his right foot to his left, and accelerated beyond Godin, Savic, and Giménez in an instant. He has the presence of mind to lay the ball back to Toni Kroos, who took aim. Jan Oblak parried his low shot, but only in to the path of Isco, who stabbed home.
Ronaldo 'shushed' the home support in celebration. Atlético trudged, deflated, in to the dressing room at half time.
The goal capped off a mesmerising performance by Isco. The diminutive midfielder ghosted in to space throughout the match, hovering in the gaps between the Atlético lines. His movement was too intelligent for Gabi to track.
Atlético failed to grasp the initiative in the second half. They spluttered, but could not score the goal that would have rattled Madrid. On the 66th minute, Atleti's golden chance came and went. The majestic Carrasco cut in from the left flank, and curled a shot towards the far corner. Navas was equal to it. Gameiro thrust his head towards the rebound, the shot looked destined to nestle in the net. Again, Navas was equal to it.
The Atlético players seemed to comprehend the importance of that moment. Thereafter, Madrid eased in to control. Cristiano Ronaldo, otherwise anonymous, directed a shot in to the bottom corner, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
As the match approached full time, rain began to pour down from the Madrid sky. It added to an already-emotional atmosphere. Diego Simeone stood on the touchline with his chin held high, but his Champions League dream was washing away. Real Madrid's bench sprinted on to the pitch as the referee raised his arm to the sky and blew the final whistle. It was a European goodbye to the Calderón, but really, this tie was won at the Bernabéu.