Fourth, three years later

Atlético de Madrid's triumph on Wednesday against Liverpool at Anfield returned the Atletico team to the Champions League quarterfinals three years later, once it did not reach such an instance of the maximum European competition from the 2016-17 academic year, when he was eliminated in the semifinals of the competition by Real Madrid at Vicente Calderón, on May 10, 2017.

Until then, he had always reached at least the quarterfinals under the command of Argentine coach Diego Simeone. In 2013-14 and 2015-16 he reached the final, when he was defeated in the decisive duel by Real Madrid; in 2016-17 until the mentioned semifinals; and in 2014-15 up to the quarters. And since then he had not succeeded in either of the two previous campaigns.

It did not do so in 2017-18, the first year of existence of the Wanda Metropolitano. Not even passed the group stageBecause he only won one of his six games (2-0 against Roma at the Madrid stadium). Of the rest he only lost one (1-2 with Chelsea), but tied four (0-0 and 1-1 with Qarabag, 0-0 with Roma and 1-1 with Chelsea); an unacceptable deficit to finish between the first two, especially when two of those tied were against the modest team of Azerbaijan, one of them before their audience. Then, months later, he won the Europa League.

He also did not reach the quarters last year, in 2018-19. Second in his group, behind Borussia Dortmund, because he was unable to beat Bruges on the last date (0-0), the rojiblanco team multiplied the complexity of their round of 16 matchup when facing Juventus. Although he won 2-0 at the Metropolitano, in Turin he fell flat against Cristiano Ronaldo with a sonorous 3-0. One swipe.

This Wednesday he broke that barrier again, with a 2-3 win in overtime at Anfield against Liverpool, as he has already done on four of the six previous occasions of the Diego Simeone era.

With the Argentine coach, who took office in late 2011, Atlético did not miss that appointment in his first four appearances under the command of 'Cholo'. Neither in 2013-14 nor in 2015-16, when he reached the final and was runner-up, nor in 2016-17, when he reached the semifinals, nor in 2014-15, when he was eliminated in the quarters. Real Madrid beat him in all four.

Atlético has played the quarterfinals of the European Cup or the Champions League nine times – ten with which it will play this season – throughout its fifteen participations in the tournament, including the current one, in its history.

Of these, in six he advanced to at least the semifinals. In three he even went further, to the final, in 1973-74, 2013-14 and 2015-16. He was runner-up in all three, in the first in the tiebreaker game against Bayern Munich and in the following two in overtime and penalties, respectively, against Real Madrid. And in three others, he passed fourths and stayed in the penultimate round: in 2016-17 and 1958-59, against Real Madrid, and in 1970-71 against Ajax.

Instead, in the remaining three he was eliminated in the quarterfinals: in 2014-15, by Real Madrid; in 1996-97, by Ajax, and in 1977-78, by Bruges.

– Atlético's record in the European Cup:

2019-20:?

2018-19: Round of 16. Eliminated by Juventus.

2017-18: Group stage. Third of his quartet.

2016-17: Semifinals. Eliminated by Real Madrid.

2015-16: Runner-up. Eliminated by Real Madrid.

2014-15: Quarterfinals. Eliminated by Real Madrid.

2013-14: Runner-up. Eliminated by Real Madrid.

2009-10: Group stage. Third of his quartet.

2008-09: Round of 16. Eliminated by Porto.

1996-97: Quarterfinals. Eliminated by Ajax.

1977-78: Quarterfinals. Eliminated by the Witches.

1973-74: Runner-up. Eliminated by Bayern Munich.

1970-71: Semifinals. Eliminated by Ajax.

1966-67: Round of 16. Eliminated by the Vojvodina.

1958-59: Semifinals. Eliminated by Real Madrid.