UCL: How Barcelona, Atletico Madrid players reacted after 3-2 aggregate result

Some Barcelona and Atletico Madrid players have reacted after both sides’ UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg encounter.

Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 in the fixture at Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Tuesday.

Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres scored the goals for the Blaugrana, while Ademola Lookman scored for Diego Simeone’s side.

But it was Atletico that progressed to the Champions League semi-final stage on a 3-2 aggregate win, after winning 2-0 in the first leg at Camp Nou last week.

Reacting, Atletico Madrid captain Koke told Movistar+: “We are absolutely thrilled, eliminating a team of Barça’s level. We struggled at the beginning, but the team overcame it. The effort was enormous, and we are deserved winners of the tie.”

Similarly, Atletico Madrid forward, Antoine Griezmann, said: “I’m very happy. Two mistakes can cost you dearly in games like this. I lost the ball on the second [goal] – I was out of position. In the end, thanks to our fans and our quality, we were able to score the goal.”

Also reacting, Barcelona midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, said: “We played a very good match. We gave it our all. I have the feeling that luck wasn’t on our side. We’re growing, and we have a young, talented team that can compete for everything. We’re going to keep going like this.”

On his part, Atletico Madrid star Ademola Lookman, told TNT Sports: “Going 2-0 down [was tough]. A game of two halves, really, we stuck in there, we dug in. We didn’t get the win tonight, but we’re through to the semi-finals.”