[attach id=411495 size="medium"]Atletico Madrid’s Mario Mandzukic beaten to the ball by Bayer Leverkusen’s Emir Spahic (top).[/attach]

Atletico Madrid kept alive their dream of a second consecutive Champions League final appearance when they beat Bayer Leverkusen on penalties last night to claim a place in the last eight.

The Bundesliga side won last month’s first leg in Germany 1-0 and a goal from Atletico midfielder Mario Suarez in the 27th minute of the return match left the teams locked at 1-1 after extra time at the Calderon.

Both sides failed with two penalties before Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling fired the fifth spot-kick over the crossbar to give the hosts a 3-2 shootout victory.

Roared on by the home support, Diego Simeone’s men came storming out of the blocks but Leverkusen refused to be intimidated and Suarez’s deflected effort that went in off defender Omer Toprak was their first shot.

Atletico had suffered a setback shortly before the goal when goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya picked up a thigh injury and had to be replaced by Jan Oblak.

It was more of the same in the second half with a fired-up Atletico pressing forward without really threatening and a well-organised Leverkusen looking to hit back on the counter attack.

Tension was rising as the clock ticked down and Arda went close in the 80th when he drew a good save from Leverkusen goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Atletico midfielder Raul Garcia had the clearest chance in extra time when he blasted an angled shot straight at Leno.

In the other match, Monaco rode their luck and survived an Arsenal onslaught to reach the last eight on away goals after a 2-0 home defeat saw the tie finish 3-3 on aggregate.

Arsenal, looking to become the first team to overcome a two-goal home first-leg deficit in the Champions League, came agonisingly close to progressing after Olivier Giroud and substitute Aaron Ramsey scored in each half.

But the principality side’s 3-1 win at the Emirates was just enough to see them through after Monaco keeper Danijel Subasic spectacularly denied striker Giroud five minutes from time.

The hosts took a cautious approach as they tried to preserve their first-leg lead, failing to get a single shot on target, and were fortunate to make it into the last eight.

Arsenal had the first clear chance but Giroud’s header went just wide of the top corner.

Laurent Koscielny came closer when he blasted the ball against the bar from a few metres out although the France defender was harshly adjudged to be offside even though the ball came to him from a Monaco head.

Arsenal stepped up the pressure and were rewarded in the 36th when Subasic denied Giroud, only for the ball to fall into the path of the France forward who fired into the roof of the net.

A wave of panic then hit the Monaco players and Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck’s attempt from just outside the area was blocked by defender Aymen Abdennour.

Welbeck and Giroud were again denied as Monaco rode their luck to reach the break only one goal down on the night.

Subasic was made to work again seven minutes into the second half, tipping Mesut Ozil’s free-kick over the bar.

Monaco suddenly unleashed a flurry of attacks around the hour mark but the Arsenal’s defence, marshalled by Koscielny, held firm.

Theo Walcott was then brought on for Welbeck as Arsenal pushed for a second goal, which came in the 79th when Ramsey fired a low shot past Subasic after Walcott had hit the post.

Round of 16 – second legs