The home side were 2-0 up inside 16 minutes after a Saul Niguez bullet header and a penalty from Antoine Griezmann cut the defending champions’ 3-0 first-leg lead to a single goal.

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But Isco hit back just before half-time, and Zinedine Zidane’s men saw out the rest of the game to set up a June 3 final against Juventus in Cardiff.

“Everything can happen, but I see the team well, we are strong. The players are very good, both those who play more and less often.”

Atletico manager Diego insisted he was proud of his players, despite defeat.

“Those first 30 minutes will be in the history of the stadium and the people,” he told Marca.

“It was an extraordinary game and there was great quality on show from so many players in our team.

” It’s a shame we can’t clone players like (Diego) Godin or Gabi, as they give their life to this club”

“It was a Champions League semi-final against a great opponent and they made things difficult for us in their stadium, but our team demonstrated why we have been competing the way we have for so many years.

“We believed we could do it and we were close to winning the tie.

The incredible attack meets the immovable defence… “We set the tie up well, but their goal hurt us a lot.”