They are touted as the best football team in the world but Barcelona once more disappointed tonight, failing to sniff t he finals of Europe’s elite club championship, the UEFA Champions League.

Lionel Messi and co were beaten one-nil away to Atlético Madrid in an all-Spanish quarter-final, losing 1-2 on aggregate after having drawn the first leg at home. The all-important goal came quite early in the game when midfielder Koke grabbed his first Champions League goal of the season, side-footing home a clever Adrián López header in the fifth minute to send the home fans at the Vicente Calderón Stadium into wild celebrations. All efforts by the Barca full squad that also included Neymar to equalise proved abortive.

And in Germany, it was defending champions Bayern Munich who powered into the semis, beating visiting Manchester United 3-1 for an aggregate 4-2 score line – all the goals coming in the second half.

Chelsea of England and Real Madrid of Spain had booked their tickets to the semi-finals yesterday.

•Photo shows action during the Bayern Munich vs Manchester United match, which ended 3-1 in favour of the defending champions.