The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dream ended for brave Foxes as Atletico hold on
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Madrid survive second-half Leicester bombardment
LEICESTER 1 ATLETICO MADRID 1 (ATLETICO WIN 2-1 ON AGG)
Brave Leicester’s Champions League dream ended as they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Atletico Madrid.
Jamie Vardy’s second-half goal secured a 1-1 second-leg draw but could not force a stunning comeback after Saul Niguez’s opener.
Atletico reached the semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate but only after they survived a scare following the Foxes’ secondhalf bombardment at the King Power Stadium.
The visitors controlled the tie until Vardy struck and the hosts were reinvigorated as Vardy, Leonardo Ulloa and Riyad Mahrez all went close to adding a second.
Saul’s header proved crucial though as Diego Simeone’s side – beaten finalists in two of the last three years – squeezed into the semi-finals in search of their maiden Champions League crown.
And Leicester may now be without captain Wes Morgan – who returned after a six-game absence with a back injury – for the rest of the season after he limped off late on with an apparent hamstring injury.
The hosts created the first chance when Shinji Okazaki prodded Vardy’s cross high and wide after 20 minutes.
The Foxes were encouraged but the life was sucked out of the King Power Stadium after 26 minutes when Atletico took the lead on the night.
There had been nothing to suggest either side would break the deadlock but Atletico grabbed a crucial away goal when Filipe Luis crossed and Saul, having lost Marc Albrighton, produced a brilliant low header from 16 yards which dropped into the corner.
Leading 2-0 on aggregate, Atletico could relax knowing they had conceded just seven times in their previous 17 Champions League outings.
The visitors began to offer the kind of European masterclass Leicester had not experienced this season.
Their second string lost 5-0 in Porto in December but this time they came up against a force in Atletico whose game management rendered the Foxes impotent in the first half.
But the night changed after Vardy rammed in from close range after Ben Chilwell’s deflected drive bounced into his path. Tails up, the fighting Foxes went for it and Ulloa’s goalbound drive was blocked as they pinned Atletico back.
For the first time Atletico were flustered and Vardy nearly grabbed a second in the 67th minute, only for Stefan Savic to throw a leg out at his snap shot.
The Foxes relentlessly pressed but could not find another goal and, with Atletico content to rely on their away goal, the visitors offered little going forward.
REALMADRID4 BAYERN MUNICH 2 (REALWIN6-3O NAGG)
Cristiano Ronaldo plundered a hat-trick as Real Madrid saw off 10-man Bayern Munich 4-2 after extra-time at the Bernabeu to secure the holders’ place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Robert Lewandowski put Bayern ahead on the night from the penalty spot to level the tie on aggregate.
Ronaldo’s bullet diving header in the 76th minute then looked to have sent Real through, but a bizarre own goal from captain Sergio Ramos moments later levelled things up at 3-3 overall.
The Germans had to head into extratime with only 10 men following a second caution for midfielder Arturo Vidal, which looked harsh on the Chile international.
Real made their numerical advantage count as Ronaldo grabbed his second of the match in the 105th minute – taking him to 100 Champions League goals in the process – although he looked to have been offside.
Ronaldo completed his hat-trick four minutes later and substitute Marco Asensio added a fourth on the break in the 112th minute.