19 Mar 2026 06:10AM (Updated: 19 Mar 2026 06:14AM)
LONDON, March 18 : Atletico Madrid withstood a rousing Tottenham Hotspur fightback to reach the Champions League quarter-final with a 7-5 aggregate victory despite a 3-2 loss in north London on Wednesday.
Diego Simeone’s side, who scored four times in the opening 22 minutes in last week’s 5-2 first leg home romp, wobbled under a Spurs onslaught but goals by Julian Alvarez and David Hancko gave them some breathing space.
Randal Kolo Muani’s header gave Tottenham a halftime lead and fuelled hopes of a great escape.
Alvarez rifled in an equaliser shortly after halftime but when Xavi Simons restored Tottenham’s lead with a curled effort soon after, hope was restored for the hosts.
Atletico keeper Juan Musso made some crucial saves as Tottenham poured forward but Hancko’s near-post header stopped them in their tracks.
A 90th-minute penalty tucked away by Simons in the 90th minute came too late but it at least provided a morale-boost for Tottenham as they now focus on avoiding relegation from the Premier League.
Atletico go forward to a quarter-final against Barcelona.
