A single goal from Koke handed Atletico Madrid a slender 1-0 win in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal match at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night and consequently dumped Barcelona out of the competition 2-1 on aggregate.
With the first leg ending 1-1 a week ago, Atletico only needed one goal to send them into the semifinals and they found it in the fifth minute of the match.
Adrian thumped a shot against the post which saw the ball come back to David Villa on the flank, who then delivered a cross to Garcia who cushioned a header into the path of Koke and he made no mistake form close range, 1-0 (2-1 on aggregate).
In the 11th minute Atletico were unlucky not to double their lead when Villa struck the woodwork from the edge of the box after latching onto a through ball from Koke.
A minute later Lionel Messi missed a sitter when he headed a Dani Alvez cross inches wide under no pressure.
In the 18th minute Villa struck the woodwork for the second time when he latched onto a cross with a powerful drive.
Barcelona controlled the possession for the rest of the half, but could not break down a resilient Atletico defence before the half time whistle.
Four minutes after the restart Xavi played Neymar through on goal, but he was superbly denied by the keeper in a one-on-one situation.
Ten minutes later Xavi met a cross from Alves, but flicked his effort narrowly wide from close range.
In the 77th minute Neymar got onto the end of a cross with a diving header, but it skimmed the wrong side of the post.
Barcelona continued to push forward, but could not find a the goal that would salvage their Champions League campaign as Atletico ran out 2-1 winners on aggregate over the two legs.
