Atlético Madrid 2-1 Internazionale (13 Mar, 2024) Game Analysis

Atletico Madrid needed penalties to beat Inter Milan and reach the Champions League quarter-finals after a dramatic last-16 clash ended 2-2 on aggregate on Wednesday.

When Inter, winners of the first leg 1-0 at home, took the lead at the Metropolitano, it looked like Atletico were on the verge of disappearing, but they fought back and found a way to go to penalties to goal.

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Jan Oblak saved from Alexis Sanchez and Davy Klaassen and Inter's Yann Sommer kept out Saúl Ñíguez's effort, leaving Lautaro Martínez to keep his hopes alive.

The Argentine forward fired his penalty over the bar to put Atletico 3-2 up in the penalty shootout after the match ended 2-1 to the Spanish side in extra time.

Inter opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through Federico Dimarco, but Atletico hit back two minutes later through Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay's late goal sent the tie into extra time.

Both teams had chances to win in extra time, but it was Diego Simeone's side who kept their composure and last season's beaten finalists crashed out of the competition.

Atletico failed to get a single shot on target in the first leg at San Siro but started quickly, buoyed by a delirious Madrid crowd.

But it was Inter who opened the scoring. Nicolò Barella received the ball in the box and brought it back to the waiting Dimarco, who sent his shot straight down the middle past Oblak.

Atletico, now 2-0 down on aggregate, immediately hit back. Koke threw a pass into the box that two Inter players completely missed and it fell to Griezmann, who turned and made no mistake from close range.

Shortly before the break, Griezmann was almost there again, but his shot was deflected by Benjamin Pavard as Sommer went the other way and the teams were level at the break.

Martinez created two good chances for Inter to end the tie, but Marcus Thuram and Barella failed to capitalize when they headed through on goal.

They were made to pay as Koke was the provider again, as his pass into the box found Depay who turned and powered his shot into the bottom corner.

Atletico could have won it before extra time when Griezmann's pass set up Rodrigo Riquelme, but he sent his first-time shot over the bar to leave Simeone face down in disbelief.

The hosts made the most of the penalty shootout and the stadium erupted when Simeone broke down in tears after beating his former club and ex-teammate Simone Inzaghi.