Atletico Madrid came back from a 2-0 down aggregate score – to salvage a 2-2 draw- after which they beat Inter Milan 3-2 on penalties – to qualify for the quarter finals of the Champions league on Wednesday at the Estadio Metropolitano.
Inter were favourites coming into this match, having won 13 on the bounce since the start of 2024, and with a 1-0 score-line in their favor in the first leg, it would be easy to write off Atletico who had won one of their last five.
Federico Dimarco set the ball rolling for the visitors in the 33rd minute, giving Inter a two-goal aggregate advantage and at this point Inter looked on course for back-to- back quarter-final berths.
Antoine Griezmann would restore parity for the hosts a minute later, despite still trailing the tie on aggregate.
Substitute Memphis Depay would complete the turn around three minutes before the end of regulation time, as his low finish sent the tie to extra-time on a 2-2 score line.
Depay’s goal set up the decisive shoot-out which saw Inter fluff their lines on three spot-kicks, with Lautaro Martinez’s penalty driving the final nail in the visitor’s coffin, handing Atletico passage into the last 8.
The turnaround was impressive for the hosts who have won 19 of their 21 fixtures at home. They are also unbeaten in 17 knockout matches on home turf in the Champions league.
John Njuguna
