By DAN KARELL
For the first time in UEFA Champions League history, two teams from the same city will face off in the final.
On Wednesday afternoon in London, Atletico Madrid put in a complete performance with a 3-1 victory vs. Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, as goals from Adrian, Diego Costa, and Arda Turan lead Atleti to the Champions League final. Atletico will meet rival Real Madrid in the final on May 24 at the Estadio Da Luz in Lisbon, Portugal.
The final pairing is the second year in a row that two teams from the same nation will contend for European glory.
Carrying a 0-0 scoreline to England from the second leg, Chelsea were the first to get on the board to keep their fan’s European hopes alive.
In the 36th minute, Willian found Cesar Azpilicueta on the right wing and his low cross darted towards the feet of former Atletico star Fernando Torres. Torres whipped his right foot across the ball and thanks to a slight deflection, scored the game’s opening goal.
Atletico needed only eight minutes to respond, though. In the 44th minute, former Chelsea midfielder Tiago sent a long ball to the right wing over to Juanfran. His cross into the middle didn’t meet with anyone but on the half-volley, Adrian fired it home off the ground and into the top corner to put Atletico level on goals and ahead on away goals.
In the second half, Atletico stepped up the pace and tempo of the game and were rewarded in the 59th minute when Chelsea substitute Samuel Eto’o tripped Costa in the box, giving Atletico a penalty kick. Though he was yellow carded for apparent time wasting, Costa put his boot through the ball and powered Atletico into the lead in the 61st minute.
Turan gave the visitors their two-goal cushion in the 72nd minute when a header by the Turkish international bounced back into the middle of the box off the post. Turan was the only player to keep on running and met the ball when it hit the ground and side-footed home to the elation of the visiting fans and head coach Diego Simeone.
The victory sets up what will be the fifth meeting this season between the Madrid sides, after meeting twice in La Liga and twice in the Copa Del Rey.