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The European Champions League will go to Spain. That became certain after La Liga leaders Athletico Madrid minutes ago vanquished Chelsea of England in the second leg semi-final at their Stamford Bridge fortress to book a ticket to the final holding in Lisbon, Portugal, next month.

The game ended 3-1 in favour of the visitors, thus rubbishing the goalless draw Chelsea obtained in Spain after parking the bus in the first leg. Athletico will face Real Madrid, who yesterday ruthlessly dethroned Bayern Munich with a 4-0 whacking in Germany.

The prospects had initially looked bright for the Blues after striker Fernando Torres found the net of his former club in the 36 minutes, Willian turns his marker down in the right-hand corner and, as the Brazilian stumbles, stroking Cesar Azpilicueta’s pass home from 12 yards via a slight, but decisive, deflection off Mario Suarez.

But the lead was soon cancelled by Adrian Lopez, who struck a minute to half time. Tiago had floated a ball to the far post and an unmarked Juanfran pulled it back across for Lopez to stroke into an empty net.

For Chelsea, it went from bad to worse in the 60th minute, when Diego Costa sent goalie Mark Schwarzer the wrong way from the penalty spot in punishment for substitute Samuel Eto’o’s foul on Diego Costa.

Arda Turan further stretched the lead in 72 minutes, firing home the rebound after his initial header was tipped onto the bar and bounced back on his path.

In a way, the final apes last year’s in which two German clubs, Bayern Munich and Borrusia Dortmund, clashed at Wembley, England, with the former carting home the prized trophy.

•Photo shows Athletico’s Adrian Lopez celebrating his goal . . . this night at Stamford Bridge, England.

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