Atletico Madrid withstand Tottenham challenge to progress in Champions League

Atletico Madrid fended off Tottenham's determined push for a dramatic Champions League turnaround, securing their spot in the quarter-finals even after losing 3-2 in the second leg of the last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Diego Simeone's team found themselves behind on three occasions at Tottenham's home but managed to hold firm, advancing 7-5 on aggregate.

Randal Kolo Muani gave Tottenham the lead during the opening half, only for Julian Alvarez to equalise right at the start of the second period.

Xavi Simons scored to spark faint hopes for the resilient hosts, yet David Hancko's response dashed any dreams of a stunning recovery.

Simons' penalty in added time proved insufficient for Tottenham to overturn the deficit.

Atletico now face Barcelona in the quarter-finals, following their compatriot's emphatic 7-2 victory over Newcastle on the same evening.

Sitting third in La Liga, Atletico, who recently eliminated Barca from the Copa del Rey, trail Hansi Flick's table-toppers by 13 points.

Simeone's squad must deliver a much steadier performance than this inconsistent showing if they aim to make the semi-finals.

Struggling in 16th position in the Premier League, Tottenham's continental departure shifts their attention to staving off relegation embarrassment.

Igor Tudor's side sit just one point clear of the drop zone, facing the prospect of dropping to the second division for the first time since 1977-78.

Buoyed by their initial triumph under Tudor, who stepped in after Thomas Frank's dismissal, Tottenham welcome fourth-from-bottom Nottingham Forest on Sunday in a vital survival battle.

Tottenham's Micky van de Ven recently dismissed claims that team-mates were indifferent to the club's dire straits as baseless.

Van de Ven rejected ideas that the squad had mentally disengaged, and their fierce effort against Atletico indicated Tudor's success in maintaining drive amid the chaos.

Tottenham trailed 4-0 after 22 minutes in the initial leg in Madrid a week prior, prompting Tudor to substitute goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after 17 minutes due to mistakes that conceded goals.

Atletico hold firm

This time around, they put up a stronger fight, with Mathys Tel prompting an early stop from Atletico's stand-in custodian Juan Musso, filling in for the sidelined Jan Oblak.

Tel posed the biggest danger for Tottenham, his effort to the near post deflected by Musso.

Uncertain of their strategy in a seemingly lost cause from the outset in London, Atletico failed to establish control for extended spells.

Tottenham's persistence paid off in the 30th minute as Tel delivered an excellent lofted pass to Kolo Muani, who capitalised on poor defending to head home powerfully from 10 yards beyond Musso.

Tel missed a chance to narrow the gap further, firing directly at Musso from close range.

Atletico offered little danger until Alvarez's effort from distance struck the bar near the break, but they levelled shortly after the restart.

Tottenham's penalty claims for a challenge on Simons went unheeded, allowing Atletico to counter swiftly, with Ademola Lookman assisting Alvarez for a clever volley that beat Vicario from 12 yards.

Full credit to Tudor's players for not giving up, as Simons netted soon after.

Archie Gray sliced through Atletico's engine room, teeing up Simons just outside the box for a precise shot that curled into the distant corner.

Tottenham sensed an unlikely revival, forcing Musso into a superb denial of Pedro Porro's attempt, then blocking a follow-up from the same player.

Hancko restored parity in the 75th minute, rising above Gray to nod in from Alvarez's set-piece delivery.

After being tripped by Jose Maria Gimenez, Simons converted from the penalty spot late on, but Atletico endured the anxious closing stages.