Atletico Madrid are one of European football’s biggest sides and in 2017, Leicester City faced off against them for a place in the Champions League semi finals.
The Foxes’ one and only run in the Champions League saw them head all the way to quarter final in the 2016/17 campaign.
Leicester’s reward for beating Sevilla was to face Atletico and Diego Simeone’s side were one of the European powerhouses at the time.
After a narrow 1-0 loss in Madrid, after the hosts were awarded a controversial spot-kick, Leicester went toe-to-toe with the Spanish giants.
Saul Niguez gave the away side the lead before Jamie Vardy then levelled. The Foxes then dominated but couldn’t find a way.
It’s a far cry from the previous meeting in 1997, a game where Martin O’Neill has never forgiven the referee for a calamitous performance at Filbert Street.
Although Leicester were beaten by their La Liga opponents, it’s a game that left a mark on Simeone, who was very complimentary of the Blues.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
What Diego Simeone said after Atletico Madrid beat Leicester City
As soon as the full time whistle went at the King Power Stadium, Leicester’s players dropped to the floor in despair after coming so close, but only getting so far.
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Simeone and the rest of the Atletico players knew they had been in a game and went round picking up every player on the floor and congratulating them on making them work for their place in the last four.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, the passionate Argentine admitted that it was a hard-fought win.
“I’m full of emotions, full of pride for the performance of my team,” he said. “Full of hope and excitement as we progress.
“But I have to say what a great performance from Leicester, it was almost a pleasure to compete against then. We were living in fear all night of what they might achieve. They pushed us all the way.”
Leicester City’s Champions League run in 2016/17
Leicester may have only been in the Champions League once, but it was a campaign they’ll never forget.
Drawn alongside Club Brugge, Porto and Copenhagen, the Foxes were handed a relatively kind group.
Claudio Ranieri’s side breezed through the group comfortably and became the first British team to win all three of their home games in the competition.
Leicester City Champions League fixtures
Club Brugge 0-3 Leicester City
Leicester City 1-0 Porto
Leicester City 1-0 FC Copenhagen
FC Copenhagen 0-0 Leicester City
Leicester City 2-1 Club Brugge
Porto 5-0 Leicester City
Sevilla 2-1 Leicester City (last 16)
Leicester City 2-0 Sevilla (Leicester won 3-2 on aggregate)
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Leicester City (QF)
Leicester City 1-1 Atletico Madrid (Atletico Madrid won 2-1 on aggregate)
Their reward for winning the group was a last 16 tie against Sevilla. A 2-1 defeat in Spain was Ranieri’s final game as Leicester manager.
In the second leg, they produced one of the great nights on Filbert Way as goals from Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton, as well as a Kasper Schmeichel penalty save, secured a 2-0 win for Craig Shakespeare’s men.
Then along came Atletico and the 2-1 aggregate defeat to the eventual finalists was as far as they would go.