European Champions League

Atlético Madrid 4 - Schalke 0

Atlético: Leo Franco; Perea, Heitinga, Ujfalusi, Pernía; Maxi, Maniche (Paulo Assunçao 71'), Raúl García, Simao; Diego Forlán (Luis García 70'), Agüero (Sinama-Pongolle 87'). 4-4-2.
Schalke: Schober; Westermann, Bordon, Howedes, Pander; Ernst, Jones (Asamoah 78'), Kobiashvili (Rafinha 65'), Rakitic; Altintop, Kuranyi. 4-4-2.

Goals:
1-0. 22. Agüero. Got on end of Perea cross to steer header wide of Schober.
2-0. 54. Diego Forlán. Picked up Agüero pass and struck angled shot past keeper.
3-0. 82. Luis García. Got ahead of marker to turn in Agúero cross on near post.
4-0. 86. Maxi (penalty). After Simao brought down by Pander inside area.

Atlético Madrid are back in Europe's top competition for the first time in twelve years after an impressive 4-0 win over Schalke '04! Javier Aguirre's side were looking to overturn a 1-0 first leg result, but they got off to a shaky start, with Pander and Kuranyi going close for the visitors. With just under 20 minutes gone though Bordón cleared an effort from Forlán off the line, and Perea picked up the rebound and crossed in for Kun Agüero to open the scoring.

Heitinga did well to clear from Kuranyi soon afterwards, but Simao could have scored at the other end later in the first half when his shot came back off the post. And six minutes in to the second half Agüero slipped the ball through for Forlán to run on and beat Schober with an angled shot.

An away goal would still have taken Schalke through, and Leo Franco did well to keep out Westermann as the German side pressed forward. However with eight minutes to go Schober could only push out a shot from Agüero, and the Olympic gold medallist picked up the rebound and crossed in for substitute Luis García to score.

That put the game beyond Schalke's reach, but just to make sure Maxi converted a late penalty after Pander was sent off for bringing down Simao in the penalty area. The decisive pass came again from Agüero, and nobody was more delighted than his father-in-law Diego Armando Maradona, who was in the 55,000 crowd watching. Atlético are back in the big time - watch out Europe!