Christiano Ronaldo once again showed why he was signed by Juventus by shuttering Atletico Madrid’s Champions League ambition.
The Portuguese forward extended his record tally in the competition to 124 goals with what was his eighth European hat-trick.
Two headed goals and an 86th-minute penalty secured a 3-0 win for the Italian giants to progress to the last eight courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate success.
And following his well-taken spot-kick, Ronaldo appeared to rub salt in Simeone’s wounds as he repeated the gesture that the Argentine coach made in the previous leg at the Wanda Metropolitano.
In bizarre scenes in the first clash, Simeone grabbed his crotch during goal celebrations – which he later described as meaning Atletico showed “cojones”.
He apologised for his actions and was handed a fine, albeit escaped a suspension from UEFA for the second clash in Turin.
And Ronaldo performed a similar gesture after scoring his third goal, thrusting forward several times while gesturing towards both groins with his arms.
But Simeone declared post-match that he had no ill feelings towards Ronaldo.
“I’m sure Cristiano made the gesture with the same intention I did, with his people,” Simeone told reporters.
“He will have seen how I did it at the Wanda Metropolitano and, like me, was trying to show his character.
“Cristiano is one of the best in the world and it’s normal that he can appear as he appeared.”
Simeone paid tribute to the performance of Juve, insisting that the Serie A side were simply far superior to his charges while dismissing suggestions his team did not put in enough effort.
He said: ”It was not about commitment, about work or effort. Juventus were better and deserved to win the game.
“They pushed us back. You must congratulate a rival when they play a game like that and you are beaten like today.
“We made many mistakes, for sure – but I mean me, not the players. They were better tactically and on second balls. That is why they won the game.
“I don’t think it was our worst performance, nor did I see a lack of character. They simply played better and we have to congratulate them.
“We had played quite well towards half-time and created a big chance, but were unable to do enough in the second half. We couldn’t contrast them.
“Juventus played in a similar way to what we did in the first leg. We struggled and they deservedly go through to the quarter-finals.”