“Ad augusta per angusta” – through difficulty to honour – the banner that stretched across the south stand of the Metropolitano had said, and it was right. Oh, how, it was right; more even than they had imagined. They would struggle and they would suffer, a wild night lived on the edge, one in which even the manager got injured, but in the end there was glory for Atlético Madrid.
A highly unpredictable game with multiple potential outcomes eventually reached its conclusion at 11:43pm local time. Surprisingly, it was Lautaro Martínez who secured victory with his ninth penalty shot soaring over the north end.
In 2024, Internazionale experienced their first loss in a football match, and it came in a devastating manner. This was the first shootout in the competition in almost a decade, and incredibly, there have been two in just two days. With a total of 38 shots taken, Atlético emerged victorious with a score of 2-1. However, nine more shots were required to determine the final outcome of this intense battle.
Last year’s finalists are out; Atlético are through, the substitute Memphis Depay dragging them into extra time with a late goal and an almost superhuman display, then absolutely belting his spot-kick into the net before Jan Oblak took flight to save twice and sent them through.
The initial defeat had been turned around, as had the first goal conceded in the second half. Despite Saúl Ñíguez missing their second penalty, Atlético managed to overcome it. He was stopped by Yann Sommer, but both Alexis Sánchez and Davy Klaassen were also unable to score against Oblak. The team was overjoyed and exhausted at the same time. Everyone, including the ball boys, had been going at full speed for two hours. Even from the start, the ball boys were sprinting around as if it were the final minutes of the game. However, nothing could compare to the intensity and tension of the final stages.
After returning from San Siro, it only took Atlético three minutes to make a shot on goal through Stefan Savic. This was already more than their first leg performance. They could have taken the lead when Samuel Lino rebounded off Nicolò Barella, escaped from Stefan de Vrij, and took a strong low shot that Sommer saved.
However, from the start, there was a clear and sharpness to Inter that hinted at an early resolution to this match. This was evident when Denzel Dumfries put pressure on Oblak, resulting in a double save, and the goal was scored just 33 minutes into the game.
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Atlético had a chance to take the lead when Marcos Llorente passed to Frenchman, but he was unable to convert the shot. Llorente tried again shortly after, but this time Álvaro Morata missed a prime opportunity. Inter also had their chances, with Martínez passing to first Marcus Thuram and then Barella, who both failed to capitalize. This led to a tense and open finale, as Atlético made one final effort to score against Inter.
The city of Memphis, in particular, witnessed a remarkable display from a player named sent on. He had three opportunities in a short amount of time and his performance left a lasting impact. On the first chance, he was spinning near the goal but couldn’t quite score when Ángel Correa set him up. Later, on the 85th minute, his powerful shot hit the inside of the post. Then, with only three minutes remaining, he made a quick turn in the box and delivered a brilliant finish, causing the stadium to erupt in celebration.
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Diego Simeone pulled up injured as he raced to join his celebrating players, then ended face down on the turf when Griezmann set up Rodrigo Riquelme to win it with 20 seconds left. This was it, the moment, but the shot flew over. That had hurt, but Riquleme would redeem himself from the spot.
Similar to the soccer players, Simeone rose to his feet despite the strain on his muscles and lungs. The additional period started with Yann Bisseck’s pass setting up a chance for Thuram to header, then Riquelme assisted Memphis who’s shot was impressively stopped by Sommer. On the opposing side, Martínez barely missed a header.
The players showed signs of significant stress and tension, their movements were reckless, and the atmosphere was one of desperation. However, despite the challenges, they displayed heroism and a sense of generosity. Their emotions were scattered, but they kept pushing until the very end, where they faced even more obstacles and the chance to prove their bravery.
Source: theguardian.com
