Atleti and PSG reach semis
Atletico Madrid advanced to the Champions League semifinals after edging Barcelona on aggregate despite losing the second leg 2–1, while Paris Saint‑Germain beat Liverpool 2–0 — a result that completed a 4–0 aggregate for the holders. (sportsnet.ca) (bleacherreport.com) Atletico’s trip to the last four is their first since 2016–17 and PSG’s win included an Ousmane Dembélé brace. (worldsoccertalk.com) (bleacherreport.com)
Atlético Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain took the first two UEFA Champions League semifinal places on Tuesday, April 14, after surviving very different quarterfinal second legs. (uefa.com) Atlético lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Madrid but still went through 3-2 on aggregate after its 2-0 first-leg win. Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres scored for Barcelona before Ademola Lookman pulled one back for Diego Simeone’s side. (uefa.com) Paris Saint-Germain beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield and advanced 4-0 on aggregate, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring both goals in the return leg. Paris had already won the first leg 2-0 in France on April 8 through goals from Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. (uefa.com 1) (uefa.com 2) For Atlético, the result ends a nine-year wait for a Champions League semifinal after the club last reached the last four in 2016-17. UEFA’s bracket shows Atlético now sits in the semifinal half with the winner of Arsenal against Sporting Clube de Portugal. (uefa.com 1) (uefa.com 2) For Paris Saint-Germain, the win keeps the defending European champion on course for another final and sends Liverpool out without scoring across 180 minutes. UEFA’s bracket places Paris against the winner of Bayern Munich against Real Madrid in the semifinals. (uefa.com 1) (uefa.com 2) The Atlético-Barcelona tie followed a familiar pattern in this competition. AS USA noted before kickoff that the clubs had met twice before in Champions League knockout rounds, both in quarterfinals, and Atlético had advanced each time. (as.com) UEFA’s fixtures page lists the semifinal stage from May 4 to May 29, with the remaining two quarterfinal second legs scheduled for Wednesday, April 15. By the end of Tuesday’s matches, Atlético and Paris had turned first-leg advantages into the first confirmed spots in the last four. (uefa.com) The quarterfinal picture is now simple: Atlético got there by absorbing Barcelona’s early surge, and Paris got there by shutting Liverpool out home and away. Tuesday’s winners are through; the other half of the bracket will be decided next. (uefa.com) (uefa.com)
