Atletico, Real, Chelsea and Bayern Munich will compete in the semifinals of 2013/2014 Champions League

Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich joined Chelsea and Real Madrid in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League.

Atletico Madrid knocked La Liga rivals Barcelona out of the tournament with a 2-1 win on aggregate. Barcelona needed to score after a draw at Camp Nou last week, but it was Koke who opened the scoring after just five minutes. The Colchoneros were close to beating Jose Pinto again as David Villa struck the post twice. Lionel Messi was a modest presence in the Catalan side as they failed to deliver anything worthy of an equalizer. Barcelona can now concentrate on Copa del Rey final and the title race in La Liga. Gerardo Martino gave credit to solid opposition:
“In reality, the moments when we couldn’t do what we had planned, what Barcelona normally does, are to do with the virtues of our opponent.”
“Their intensity, the way they defend, the number of players closing ranks near their penalty area.”

Bayern Munich proved too strong for Manchester United despite conceding a stunner from Patrice Evra on 57 minutes. It did not take the Germans long to equalize through Mario Mandzukic, while Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben put the hosts ahead as Bayern won 4-2 on aggregate. United manager David Moyes rued lack of concentration after Evra’s goal:
“It’s the sort of thing you learn as a schoolboy once you score a goal, make sure you don’t concede”.
“You get into position and do your job. We had concentrated so fabulously well throughout the game.
“The players had done tactically well. Their positioning was good and they did their jobs.
“For us just to give it up on that moment, the goal up, was really disappointing.”

The draw will be held on Friday.