Thursday 16 March 2017 06:33, UK
Atletico Madrid coasted into the Champions League quarter-finals for the fourth year running as a goalless draw with Bayer Leverkusen sealed a 4-2 aggregate victory.
Diego Simeone upheld his flawless last-16 record in Europe's elite-club competition as Atleti finished the job after their impressive first-leg victory in Germany.
A much-improved Leverkusen peppered the Atletico goal throughout but found goalkeeper Jan Oblak in impenetrable form at the Vicente Calderon.
At the other end, the Bundesliga side had goalkeeper Bernd Leno to thank as a string of saves that kept their faint hopes of an unlikely turnaround alive.
But their efforts came up short as 2014 and 2016 runners-up Atletico booked their place in Friday's quarter-final draw alongside domestic rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Leverkusen, under the watchful eye of new head coach Tayfun Korkut nearly made the perfect start to reducing the hosts two-goal first-leg lead, but Kevin Volland dragged a fourth-minute shot wide.
After a sluggish start, Atletico burst into life on the quarter-hour mark when Angel Correa scampered clear into the Leverkusen area.
His drilled effort was blocked though, initiating a counter which culminated in Julian Brandt being played through on goal, but his hesitancy allowed Jose Gimenez to break up with move with a last-gasp challenge.
Brandt then turned provided, pouncing on Sime Vrsaljko's scuffed clearance to square for Javier Hernandez, but the former Real Madrid striker scooped the ball over the bar.
As the interval approached, Leverkusen were then indebted to goalkeeper Bernd Leno who pulled off two stunning saves in quick succession to keep the tie alive.
First he denied Correa's near-post drive on 40 minutes before Koke's skimming effort was tipped around the post.
Still in with a chance of causing an upset, Leverkusen threatened to break the deadlock at the start of the second period but Volland's cross missed the unmarked Hernandez.
The profligacy was contagious as, having done so well to weave his way into the area, Correa failed to put the tie to bed, dragging an effort wide on 55 minutes.
Antoine Griezmann's audacious chipped effort drifted wide shortly after, before a stunning series of saves from Oblak kept the visitors out.
First the Slovenia international thwarted Brandt, before quickly getting to his feet to block Volland's two attempted rebounds, clearing as far as Hernandez, who then flashed his follow up wide in a frantic passage of play.
Oblak was on hand to tip Borges Wendell's dipping effort wide on 80 minutes, before he dealt with Kevin Kampl's curling effort in similar fashion.
Griezmann and Saul Niguez both had glimpses of the Leverkusen goal in the closing stages but failed to add to Atletico's advantage.
