Champions League: What A Game!

Barcelona, Atletico Madrid eliminated from the Champions League.

The UEFA Champions League really delivered in Tuesday night’s affair that pitted Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint Germain and Barcelona together in the second leg of the quarter-final tie.

And on the night, fortunes were changed to gift the losers of the first leg the advantage of advancing into the semi-final.

The Champions League second leg quarter-final tie all kickstarted with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona heading into their respective tie with a one goal advantage over their opponents.

With Diego Simeone’s Atletico side leading on aggregate terms with a 2-1 score line, their efforts to keep things clear at 0-0 or at best, better the tie with another goal advantage, proved abortive when striker, Morata missed a one-on-one chance meeting with Borussia Dortmund’s goalie, Gregor Kobel.

For Dortmund, it was both a let off and an opportunity to push for the leveler through forward, Julian Brandt who was happy to slot in the lead past Jan Oblak in the 34th minute.

Four minutes following the lead, right-back Ian Maatse gave Borussia Dortmund the lead on aggregate to stun Diego Simeone.

However, Simeone’s side had other ideas for the tie with the Spanish team forcing out an own goal from Dortmund’s Mats Hummels to bring Atletico Madrid level on aggregate terms. The Colchoneros just like Dortmund followed the goal with an equalizer through substitute Ángel Correa to add more drama on the night.

Had the score line remained level on 2-2, the Spanish side would have emerged as winners thanks to their 2-1 advantage in the first leg, but the BvB pushed their way to regain their 1-goal lead before Atletico could get comfortable with their advantage.

Niclas Füllkrug and Marcel Sabitzer came through for the Bundesliga side to hand Dortmund a 4-2 win on the night.

For Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain, it was a different drama entirely, with the Catalans doubling their 1-goal advantage in the 12th minute thanks to Raphinha. But the drama came for Barca when Ronald Araujo got himself sent off 17-minutes later to hand Paris Saint-Germain a 1-man advantage.

Former Barcelona star, Ousmane Dembele was happy to give his new side, PSG the leveler in the 40th minute on his return to Spain.

Barcelona’s woes continued in the second half when Vitinha gave the Ligue 1 side the lead on the night and the equalizer on aggregate to force on more pressure on the Catalans.

While the pressure built, the Spanish side became more nervy in defence to gift Kylian Mbappe a chance to double Paris Saint-Germain’s lead through a penalty kick in the 61st minute.

The Frenchman came back to haunt the Catalans again in the 89th minute to eliminate whatever hopes Barcelona held of pushing a comeback.

Following full-time whistle for both games, both Spanish teams see themselves exit the Champions League tournament to leave Real Madrid as Spain’s last team standing in the competition.