It was one of those great nights.
It was one of those oh so few European football nights that had absolutely everything you could want.
It was the Munster hurling final, on steroids, in German and Spanish.
And it was football at its very best, and we now know at least one side who will be lining up in the Champions League final later this month.
Atletico Madrid is through to their second Champions League finale in three years, after a 2-1 loss to Bayern Munich, saw them progress 2-2 on aggregate, via the away goals rule.
The game began at 90mph and only got faster as a goal from Xabi Alonso got Bayern back into the tie, before Thomas Mueller missed a penalty kick to make it 2-0.
Muller’s effort was 15th unsuccessful penalty in 40 this season.
25 goals, 10 saves, 2 woodwork, 3 off target. #UCL pic.twitter.com/MHLvDeAz2V— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 3, 2016
It was 14th time unlucky for the German champions, who were dominating the game.
Bayern's 13th shot of the match was Alonso's goal. Their 14th shot was Muller's missed penalty (34').
— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) May 3, 2016
Half time was a welcome break for a game that was a bit filthy, a bit hectic, and a whole lot of entertaining.
Half-time and it is level on aggregate. Shockingly uneventful… missed penalties, touchline spats, heroics, Godin#BayernAtleti
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 3, 2016
And then Antoine Grizemann did what everyone hoped for, as he scored for the La Liga side to really make for a frantic last 20 minutes, as a crucial away goal meant we would not have penalties.
Simeone is a genius. And Griezmann is the next best thing.
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) May 3, 2016
Even if he was offside. Or maybe he wasn’t.
Griezmann look offside in the first angle but second one shows it was the correct call. #BAYATL pic.twitter.com/5uBrKRBRXZ
— M•A•J (@UItraSuristic) May 3, 2016
Then the drama continued as Bayern Munich scored through Lewandowski, but conceded a penalty when Torres was fouled outside the area.
He missed, and it was set up for a savage finish.
Torres misses from the spot and we've got a huge 5 minutes left! #BayernAtleti pic.twitter.com/vmgAAIadXV
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) May 3, 2016
And the trolls were out.
Seen a worse Torres miss than that pic.twitter.com/8W3iZaLa6R
— Scott Patterson (@R_o_M) May 3, 2016
Diego Simeone even lost the plot on the sideline with a match official in the five extra minutes at the end of the 90.
When you're having a row in the street and the dickhead selling roses turns up https://t.co/Ys76r9syGr
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) May 3, 2016
After an incredible match, everybody was feeling the same way.
https://twitter.com/DaveMcIntyreNT/status/727598730887741440
Not everyone's cup of tea but nobody knocks out Barcelona and Bayern by just cheating and fouling
— Aidan O'Hara (@oharaa) May 3, 2016
Felicitaciones @CarlitosHierro. pic.twitter.com/hlGm8jSJru
— Alex Stone (@AlexStone7) May 3, 2016
And Pep’s failure in Europe again was mentioned.
https://twitter.com/D_Buckley8/status/727598900597633025
Bayern paid Pep Guardiola a reported €50m to win the Champions League. They got 3 semi-final defeats to La Liga sides (0-5, 3-5, 2-2). #MCFC
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) May 3, 2016
Superb from Atlético Madrid, all for one, one for all as they say!
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) May 3, 2016
Roll on Wednesday night.
