Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League despite a 2-0 win at Monaco, but Atletico Madrid live to fight another day.
The first Champions League Last 16 ties of the week took place tonight with the Gunners and Atleti both trailing after the first legs.
Arsene Wenger’s men were seeking to overturn a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates in the first leg, and got off to a good start when Olivier Giroud fired them in front in the first half.
Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League despite a 2-0 win at Monaco, but Atletico Madrid live to fight another day.
The first Champions League Last 16 ties of the week took place tonight with the Gunners and Atleti both trailing after the first legs.
Arsene Wenger’s men were seeking to overturn a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates in the first leg, and got off to a good start when Olivier Giroud fired them in front in the first half.
Aaron Ramsey doubled the English side’s lead with a low finish across the goalkeeper on 79 minutes, leaving them within one goal of progressing.
However, after an Olivier Giroud header was well saved by Monaco ‘keeper Danijel Subašić, Arsenal were unable to make the breakthrough, and exit the competition on away goals.
This represents the fifth year in a row that the Gunners have been knocked out in the Last 16.
Meanwhile, Atletico, who reached the final last year, were staring down the barrel of elimination after 1-0 loss in Germany last month, but quickly levelled the tie when Mario Suarez's shot was deflected past Bernd Leno after Leverkusen failed to clear a free-kick.
The proved to be the only goal of normal time, and the tie headed into extra-time.
The extra half-hour was cagey, with only a Fernando Torres header ever looking like breaking the deadlock, and the match headed to a penalty shootout.
Defying conventional wisdom, the German side were unable to triumph from the spot, with the Spanish champions advancing after a 3-2 win.
Raul Garcia fired his first penalty over the bar, drawing groans from the Calderon crowd.
However, those jeers soon turned to cheers when Hakan Calhanoglu’s terrible effort was easily saved.
Omer Toprak was also guilty of a terrible kick, but Atleti captain Koke also missed after Simon Rolfes and Mario Suarez had scored. Gonzalo Castro restored parity at 2-2.
Hometown hero Fernando Torres then slotted his spot-kick home, before Stefan Kiessling fired over the bar to send his side through.
That means there are just two Quarter Final places to be decided, with Juventus hoping to join Monaco, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Porto and Bayern Munich.
The Bianconeri hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg, and will progress with a draw against Jurgen Klopp’s men.
The other tie sees Manchester City looking to overturn a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad against Barcelona.