Despite a spirited 2-1 victory on the night, ten-man Barcelona were eliminated from the Champions League as Atletico Madrid secured a 3-2 aggregate win.
Barcelona ignited hopes of a historic comeback as Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres scored early to level the aggregate score. However, Ademola Lookman’s decisive strike restored Atletico’s control.
The visitors’ momentum vanished in the 79th minute when Eric Garcia received a straight red card following a VAR review, leaving the La Liga leaders unable to find the final goal required to force extra time.
Diego Simeone’s side endured a “breathless, end-to-end night laced with a little controversy” to dump the five-time winners out of the competition.
While Barca dominated the early exchanges, they were “still jettisoned from a competition they last lifted in 2015.”
Atletico Madrid now progress to the semi-finals, where they will face either Arsenal or Sporting CP in their quest for a maiden title.