Two Spanish Wins, Two European Steps

“Two down, two through.”

Athletico Madrid beat AC Milan 2-0 on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League, completing a 5-2 aggregate victory in their Last 16 tie. The result sends them through after a demanding contest across two legs; it also puts the week’s domestic business briefly in its place. Athletico remain top of the Spanish First Division, as reported on Monday, but Europe offered its own test and they passed it.

Getafe supplied Thursday’s answer in the UEFA Europa League, beating OGC Nice 3-1 to progress 5-2 on aggregate. There is particular pleasure in seeing a Spanish club outside the usual glare carry its European work through to completion. Getafe’s win makes this a full Spanish return: two games, two victories, two places in the next round.

Athletico face Vigo in the Spanish First Division on 23 March, but the immediate point is what these results say about the country’s breadth in Europe. The Champions League tie brought the bigger billing; Getafe’s Europa League passage was no lesser service to Spain’s week.

For Athletico, the league summit remains under pressure, but Wednesday’s work gives them another front on which to keep answering. Spain’s clubs have not merely survived these ties. Both have advanced.