DHAKA: Atletico Madrid knocked Spanish rivals Barcelona out of the Champions League as Koke`s early goal gave them a 2-1 aggregate win over the Catalan giants.

The midfielder`s close-range shot put the Spanish league leaders into the semi-finals following the 1-1 draw in Barcelona last week.

Hosts Atletico struck the woodwork three times in the opening 20 minutes.

Gabi wasted a fine chance for Atletico after the break while Neymar went close with a diving header for Barcelona.

 The result puts Atletico into the last four of the competition for the first time since 1974, and with Diego Simeone`s side heading La Liga by a point from Barcelona with six games remaining, a domestic and European double is a distinct possibility.

Barcelona counterpart Gerardo Martino, by contrast, must contemplate the fact that his side have become the first Barca team to fail to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League since 2007.

Four previous meetings between the two sides this season - in La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup and the first leg of this tie - had all ended in draws, but Atletico began the match positively rather than being content to rest on their away goal advantage.

Source: BBC
BDST: 1039 HRS, APR 10, 2014