A pleasant evening to you; welcome to Nigerianeye's live commentary of the Champions League quarter-final second leg between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in Madrid.
Reigning champions Barcelona will enter the match as the slight favourites to advance following a 2-1 victory in the first leg at Camp Nou last week.
The Catalan outfit, who have progressed in 38 of the 40 UEFA competition ties where they won the first leg at home, have also won each of their last seven fixtures against Atletico in all competitions, including three matches this season.
Barcelona have lost their last two in La Liga, however, to allow second-place Atletico to close the gap at the summit to just three points with six games left.
OFFICIAL LINE-UP
ATLETICO MADRID: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Lucas, Luis; Augusto, Koke, Gabi; Saul, Griezmann, Carrasco
Subs: Bravo, Douglas, Arda, Bartra, Munir, Sergi Roberto, Adriano.
BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Alves, Pique, Mascherano Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
Subs: Moya, Gamez, Savic, Kranevitter, Vietto, Correa, Partey.
Incredible scenes at the final whistle as Atletico celebrate their spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League. They have knocked out Barcelona courtesy of a 2-0 win in the second leg of this quarter-final - what a night! Thanks for joining Nigerianeye for the action. Until next time!
90 min+6 FULL-TIME: Atletico 2-0 Barcelona (Atletico win 3-2 on aggregate)
90 min+5 BOOKING! Koke (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Alba.
90 min+3 ATLETICO SUB! Savic replaces Fernandez for the home team.
90 min+3 Messi takes the free kick, but his effort is too high!
90 min+1 Gabi has handled inside the box! Should have been a penalty!
90 min+1 Barcelona have a free kick just outside the Atletico box!
90 min BOOKING! Correa (Atletico) is booked for taking too long to enter the field!
90 min ATLETICO SUB! Correa replaces two-goal Griezmann for the home side.
89 min Griezmann places his effort into the bottom corner for 2-0!
88 min GOAL! Atletico 2-0 Barcelona (Griezmann, pen)
87 min BOOKING! Iniesta (Barcelona) is booked for handling a Luis cross inside the box!
87 min PENALTY ATLETICO!
87 min Barcelona continue to dominate possession as Atletico drop deep and it is simply attack versus defence at the moment. Pique is playing as a centre-forward for the Catalan outfit!
85 min BOOKING! Godin (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Roberto.
84 min SAVE! Oblak gets down to keep out a low Suarez strike!
83 min Alarm bells for the home side as Messi delivers a dangerous free kick into the Atletico box, but Oblak makes the punch, before Luis is across to challenge Pique inside the area!
81 min Barcelona need one of their big players to step forward in the final 10 minutes. Messi, Suarez and Neymar have all been poor tonight and Atletico are quite comfortable with 81 on the clock here.
77 min BOOKING! Neymar (Barcelona) is booked for kicking out at Juanfran.
77 min Handbags again!
76 minYou just get the feeling that there is another goal in this match and it would be a killer for Atletico if Barcelona managed to level it at 1-1 and indeed take a lead in the tie. Fifteen to play here!
74 minATLETICO SUB! Thomas replaces Carrasco in Atletico's first change.
73 min Messi is still stuck on 499 career goals and in truth, he has not really looked like finding the back of the net tonight. Likewise Neymar, who has been disappointing for the Catalan outfit in Madrid.
70 min BOOKING! Suarez (Barcelona) is booked for his challenge on Godin.
70 min Super defending from Godin as the Atletico centre-back beats Suarez to a high ball and helps his team survive another period of pressure. Neymar and Luis then have a little pushing match!
69 min BOOKING! Gabi (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Messi.
67 min CHANCE! Suarez rolls Godin inside the Atletico box, but fires straight at Oblak!
66 min Atletico are just so, so good at the back. Barcelona are putting them under some serious pressure at the moment, but they are holding onto their 1-0 lead, which is enough as we stand here!
64 min BARCELONA SUBS! Roberto and Turan replace Alves and Rakitic for the visitors.
63 min SAVE! Oblak saves from Iniesta as Atletico survive another spell of pressure.
62 min CHANCE! Griezmann breaks away for Atletico this time and attempts to beat Ter Stegen at his near post, but the stopper makes the save. End-to-end football at the Calderon here!
60 min CHANCE! What a piece of defending from Gabi! Alba delivers a wonderful cross into the Atletico box and it looks as if a yellow shirt will turn home, but the captain makes the challenge!
58 min Alba sets up Messi on the edge of the box, but Koke makes a vital block.
57 min It just is not happening for Barcelona at the moment as another attack breaks down in the final third of the field. Suarez has been poor tonight, but wouldn't it be so like him to pop up with a goal! Arda Turan is warming up for the visitors and we might see the Turk sooner rather than later here!
55 min The home supporters are in wonderful voice at the moment as Barcelona continue to struggle in the final third of the field. As it stands, Atletico are heading into the semi-finals of the competition.
53 min CROSSBAR! Saul rises inside the Barcelona box, but his header hits the woodwork!
52 min CHANCE! Atletico break forward and Koke looks to find Carrasco after beating Ter Stegen to the ball, but Pique is on hand to make the clearance and Barcelona survive a second.
50 min Alves misses the target for Barcelona following a Neymar corner from the right.
49 min Atletico break on Barcelona and Koke looks to poke a pass into Griezmann, but Mascherano is on hand to make the clearance. The noise inside this stadium is just incredible at the moment as the home supporters drive their team forward. It is just so delicately poised in the capital tonight.
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind for the second period. Barcelona have work to do!
46 min ESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Barcelona respond in this second 45 minutes? They need to! The visitors resume the action...
STATS! Barcelona have dominated the possession with 71%, but they have only had three attempts and just one was on target. Atletico, meanwhile, have hit the target with four of their five attempts. No bookings to report in the first period, but there have been some tasty challenges here!
The referee brings the first period to a close with Atletico leading 1-0 on the night courtesy of a super header from Griezmann in the 36th minute. We are currently level at 2-2 on aggregate, but Atletico are ahead on away goals. Barcelona have struggled again tonight!
45 min+1 HALF-TIME: Atletico 1-0 Barcelona
44 min SAVE! Ter Stegen gets down to keep out Carrasco from distance!
42 min Barcelona are really wobbling at the moment aren't they! I don't mean at this particular moment in this match, but in general. They are really hitting some bad form at a key part of the season! Neymar attempts to beat Oblak from distance, but the Atletico stopper makes the save.
40 min Atletico are currently ahead on away goals, but you suspect that we have not seen the last of the goals in this match. That said, Barcelona have been poor in the final third and Atletico are just to strong at the back. The Calderon is absolutely bouncing as we approach the half-time break here.
37 min Atletico make the breakthrough in the 36th minute and level the tie at 2-2 as Griezmann heads a wonderful Saul Niguez into the back of the net! Terrific header from the Frenchman there!
36 min GOAL! Atletico 1-0 Barcelona (Griezmann)
35 min Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and we are still 0-0 on the night and 2-1 Barcelona on aggregate. Barcelona break forward through Iniesta, who works the ball into Neymar and then Messi, but the attack comes to an and when Alves delivers straight into Oblak's arms.
33 min... Messi takes the resulting set piece, but his effort was always over the goal.
32 min Barcelona have a free kick in a very dangerous position as Godin brings Iniesta to the deck...
31 min End-to-end football in the last few minutes as both teams commit players in the final third, but I cannot bring you any clear chances as both defences remain on top in the Spanish capital.
29 min Quite a bitty game at the moment as both teams continue to concede free kicks. Atletico have a shout for a penalty as Pique grabs onto Carrasco inside the box, but the referee says no!
26 min Carrasco has been the standout player on the pitch in the opening 26 minutes and the Belgian wins his team a free kick in a dangerous position, but Koke's delivery is straight into the arms of Ter Stegen, who looks to release Alves down the right. Not happening in terms of chances at the moment!
24 min The referee has not been interested in a couple of soft falls in the last few minutes, which is good to see. He seems to have picked up the atmosphere and has allowed the play to flow when possible. Still 0-0 on the night as Barcelona pass and probe in the final third of the field.
21 min Smart work between Griezmann and Gabi as the latter attempts to release the former inside the Barcelona box, but Mascherano is across to make the challenge. Koke then delivers a dangerous low cross into the box, but Ter Stegen is on hand to collect. Atletico have been more dangerous tonight.
20 min Still no bookings tonight, but we must be getting close as Luis brings Suarez to the deck with a poor challenge. Those two clashed on a few occasions in the first leg and Luis might be looking for some payback in this match! No real chances to report as the first period continues to develop.
18 min Godin has just bumped Neymar into the boards and the Brazilian is not happy! Godin then ruffles the hair of Neymar, which does not go down well either! Just starting to bubble along here!
16 min Simeone's decision to select Carrasco and Griezmann in the final third tonight seems to be working as the pair continue to cause Barcelona problems with their pace and movement. Atletico midfielder Fernandez is a shade lucky to escape a booking as he dives into the back of Neymar here.
14 min Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, but Barcelona are just starting to warm to their task in this match. We have seen little from the likes of Neymar, Messi and Suarez, but Iniesta and Busquets are having a lot of touches in midfield. Still 0-0 on the night in Madrid.
11 min Carrasco, who has been very lively early on here, drives a low cross into the Barcelona box, but there are no takers. Barcelona do not look very comfortable at the back in the early moments!
10 min Still Barcelona enjoy plenty of the ball, but they are not really threatening at the moment as Atletico remain nice and tight at the back. Just a reminder that a 1-0 Atletico win would see them make the semi-finals, but as it stands, Barcelona would advance. Any draw also takes the Catalan side through.
8 min SAVE! Another wonderful chance for Atletico as Luis finds the head of Griezmann inside the Barcelona box, but his effort is straight at Ter Stegen. Atletico should be ahead!
7 min Barcelona are enjoying more of the ball at the moment, but Atletico are threatening on the counter attack when Carrasco and Griezmann have the chance to break. It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium and this match is bubbling along nicely early on here!
5 min SAVE! Ter Stegen saves a long-range Carrasco strike as Atletico threaten here.
4 min CHANCE! Very presentable chance for the home side as Gabi meets a loose ball inside the Barcelona box, but his strike was always rising over the crossbar. Might have done better there!
3 min Bright work from Messi as the Argentine picks up some space down the right and attempts to cut inside Luis, but the left-back makes the challenge. You just get the feeling that the first goal tonight - if there indeed is one - could be crucial. Mascherano just prevents Gabi from breaking here.
2 min... it must be said that it is a beautiful evening in Madrid and the pitch is in excellent condition. No problems there at all! As expected, it has been a frantic start as both teams battle for control of the ball. That said, it will soon develop into a pattern of Barcelona in control of the possession here!
0 min KICKOFF! Here we go then - the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. Time for the football! Barcelona will enter the match with a 2-1 advantage, but it is so delicately poised in the capital. Right, Atletico get the first period underway at the Calderon...
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