Atletico Madrid needed a penalty shootout to edge past Inter Milan and reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League after an exciting last-16 clash ended 2-2 on aggregate on Wednesday.
Jan Oblak saved two penalties and Lautaro Martinez blasted his effort over the bar to send Atletico through 3-2 in the shootout after the match finished 2-1 to the Spanish side after extra time.
Inter opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through Federico Dimarco but Atletico hit back two minutes later with a goal from Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay’s goal three minutes from time sent the tie to extra time.
Both teams had chances to win it in extra time but in the end it was Diego Simeone’s side who held their nerve and last season’s beaten finalists exited the competition.
In similar vein Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus were on target as Borussia Dortmund secured a nervous 2-0 win over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday and a Champions League last-eight place for the first time in three years with a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, threaded his shot through the legs of an Eindhoven player and in off the post in the third minute.
It was the second goal in two matches for Sancho, who returned to Dortmund in January on loan from United after falling out of favour with coach Erik ten Hag.
He had joined United from Dortmund for 85 million euros ($93 million) in 2021 on a five-year deal, but failed to hold down a regular spot and had made just three appearances this season before returning to the Ruhr valley in January.
Sancho was also on target in Saturday’s 2-1 league win over Werder Bremen.
Donyell Malen almost scored another for the hosts a little later but his low shot sailed just wide of the far post.
Eindhoven, who last reached the quarter-finals in 2007, improved after the break and substitute Hirving Lozano rattled the post with a missile from 25 metres.
Johan Bakayoko then dribbled past defender Mats Hummels, forcing a good save from Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel in the 70th as Eindhoven kept pushing for an equaliser.
Niclas Fuellkrug thought he had settled the hosts’ nerves and put the game to bed when he volleyed in a Reus free kick in the 77th but his effort was ruled offside and the Germans had to endure even more Dutch pressure.
Luuk de Jong could have sent the game into extra time when he was left free in front of goal but instead of tapping in, he sent the ball wildly over the bar in stoppage time.
Dortmund then struck with the very next move as Reus completed a quick break to seal the win.
