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Atlético de Madrid and Benfica qualify for the quarterfinals
This Tuesday saw the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 between Manchester United and Atlético de Madrid. The match was held at Old Trafford, where the English team received the mattresses, but the visitors won by the minimum and obtained their pass to the next round.
The first leg had been held at the Wanda Metropolitano on February 23 and ended with a final score of 1-1. Everything was going to be defined this time.
The home side had just won the Premier League game over the weekend, thanks to a great performance by the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo with a hat-trick that he gave Tottenham, while Atlético got the three points by beating Cadiz by a score of 2-1.
The second leg of the round of 16 began quite closely, both teams tried to play their game, but it was not until the 13th minute when Elanga finished off a cross that came from the band, but Oblak providentially stopped with his head.
At 16', the visitors responded. De Paul took a long shot that caused goalkeeper De Gea to dive, who deflected the shot to a corner. The following minutes were characterized by refereeing controversies when Bruno Fernández fell in the area and then a foul was committed on him, but both were ignored by the referee.
At 26 'Oblak again stopped a shot from Manchester, this time through Dalot, who shot from the edge of the area, but the goalkeeper began to be a figure and stop any initiative of the 'red devils'.
But at minute 34, 'Cholo' Simeone's team opened the scoring, but the goal was annulled for offside. The play started with a filtered pass to Marcos Llorente, who served it to João Félix in the area and the Portuguese defined an empty goal. Illegal position of the Spanish player.
However, at 41' Atlético would score the only goal of the game and this was worth it. A backheel from João Félix to Griezmann who was on the wing and he throws a cross for Lodi to head to the post defending De Gea, but the Spanish goalkeeper was immobile. Final 0-1 and the match resolved at the end of the first half.
At 45+2', Oblak once again stopped a shot from the locals, this time from Bruno Fernández. With that marker, they would go to rest.
Manchester United would turn to the attack but would show that they did not have the ability to penetrate Atlético's defense, which fell back. They lacked ideas and generated dangerous plays in the rival area.
Starting the second half, at 52' De Gea would stop a shot from the edge of the box by De Paul. The team that had the advantage on the scoreboard generated more, Manchester could not disturb Oblak. Given the lack of football, the coach entered Pogba, Matic, and Rashford instead of Elanga, McTominay, and Bruno Fernández at minute 67.
However, Atlético was closer to the second than the home team to get the tie. The clearest for United came after a foul near the side of the box. Varane manages to head the cross, but the Slovenian goalkeeper stops the ball again at 77'.
The United coach brought in Cavani and Juan Mata to try to equalize, but they did not make a difference. In the last minutes, the 'red devils' ran out of ideas and thus ended the match. Atlético de Madrid qualifies for the quarterfinals.
Benfica also wins by the minimum away
For its part, the other second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 matches took place at the same time, where Benfica visited Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena and gave the surprise by getting the victory by the minimum.
The first leg match was the same February 23 at the Da Luz Stadium whose final score was 2-2. Everything would be defined in this meeting.
This Tuesday's duel was characterized by the attacks of the Dutch and quickly, at minute 7, they scored a goal that was annulled for offside. Tadic receives in the area, but he was ahead, he passes it to Haller and he scores, but the play had been invalidated.
Ajax continued to be the only one with initiatives in attack and by minute 25, they almost scored. In a great passing play, Blind sends a cross into the box that Antony heads looking for Haller at the far post, but Otamendi deflects it for a corner.
Thus they go into the break with a goalless draw, but Ajax was the only team that attacked while the Portuguese waited behind. The lack of effectiveness of the locals was going to cost them the tie. The difference was seen in the nine shots by Ajax, of which two were on goal, while Benfica only managed one that went wide.
The chances kept coming in the second half for the home team. Gravenberch, Antony, and Haller had some, but they couldn't capitalize on them and meanwhile, the Benfica coach moved the bench to make some changes.
At 76', Edson commits a foul on the wing by bringing down Gonçalo Ramos. A great opportunity from a set-piece that at 77', Grimaldo charges very well, goalkeeper Onana comes out, but Darwin, with a header, anticipates sending the ball into the back of the net. Final 0-1 and thus achieves the classification for his team to the next round.
From that moment on, Ajax tried, but to no avail. There were no more clear chances for the home side. Despite the changes, time ran out, and the Portuguese qualified for the quarterfinals.
