“Advert angusta per augustIt was true, it said on the banner stretching across the south stand of the Metropolitano – although it was difficult to honor it. Oh, how true it was; Even more than they imagined. They would struggle and they would suffer, it was a crazy night where even the manager was injured, but in the end Atletico Madrid triumphed.
A game that could have ended any way, won or lost several times, finally achieved its goal. And there, at 23.43 local time, Lautaro Martínez sent the ninth penalty towards the north end.
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Internazionale failed to win a football match for the first time in 2024, and this cost them the most. It had been almost a decade since the clashes in this competition; now there have been two in a few days. There were 38 shots here, Atletico won the game 2-1, but they needed nine more shots to decide the outcome of this match.
Last year’s finalists have been announced; Atlético finished the game off, substitute Memphis Depay dragging them into extra time with a late goal and an almost superhuman display, then emphatically slotted the spot-kick into the net before Jan Oblak flew in to save twice and sent them over.
The defeat in the first match was annulled. Thus, the first goal was conceded in the second. Atletico also survived Saúl Ñíguez’s second penalty miss. It was rejected by Yann Sommer but not by Alexis Sánchez and Davy Klaassen Oblak. Atletico had achieved this, the happiness here overshadowed the fatigue. They had been running non-stop for two hours; they all had it. Even the ball boys were running around from the very beginning, as if those opening minutes were actually the last minutes. But nothing is as intense, heart-stopping as the final stages.
Looking for a way back after the San Siro, it took just three minutes for Atlético to fire a shot on target through Stefan Savic – more than they had already managed in the entire first leg – and they could have taken an early lead after Samuel. Lino bounced off Nicolò Barella, cleared Stefan de Vrij and hit a fierce low shot that Sommer saved.
First of all, there was a certainty and clarity to Inter that made us think that this match could actually end early; It was an example of their skill when Denzel Dumfries forced Oblak into a double save, with the goal coming in just the 33rd minute.
When Federico Dimarco completed the masterful move by Martínez, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alessandro Bastoni and finally Barella, you could be forgiven for thinking it was done. Away, the Italians had their phones on but were still waving when Atlético equalised, a slightly comical goal changing the mood here. And finally the result. Benjamin Pavard scrambled, slid, missed and fell to leave Antoine Griezmann alone to score.
The Frenchman should have added to that early in the second half when he was set up by Marcos Llorente and shot past Sommer. When Llorente broke away again a minute later, Álvaro Morata scuffled when it would have been better to release the ball. On the other hand, Inter should have finished this; They squandered golden opportunities as Martínez slid first Marcus Thuram and then Barella, setting up a wild, open final in which Atlético gave Inter their all.
Especially Memphis: He soon made a big impact, scoring three goals. Turning a few meters from goal, he was unable to finish when Ángel Correa scored the first goal. He then shot inside the post in the 85th minute. And with three minutes left he took a sharp turn in the area and put in a perfect finish, it exploded.
Diego Simeone was injured as he raced to join his celebrating players, then was left face down on the field when Griezmann set up Rodrigo Riquelme for the winner with 20 seconds remaining. That was the moment, but the shot went out. It hurt, but Riquleme would get herself out of this situation.
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Like football players, Simeone stood up again, even as his muscles and lungs screamed. Extra time began with Yann Bisseck’s cross giving Thuram a key opportunity, before Riquelme put it through to Memphis, whose shot was somehow saved by Sommer, and Martínez nodded in gently at the other end.
Nerves were frayed, leaves were cut off, there was desperation everywhere, as well as heroism and generosity. The players were shattered but ran to the end, then more challenges and honor awaited them when they were placed in their places.