Atletico hold Champions league advantage

Antoine Griezmann ended up being the club’s all-time leading Champions League marker in a valuable triumph to provide the Spaniards the benefit.

Atletico Madrid remain in lead for a Champions League quarter-final berth after taping a 4-2 gain Bayer Leverkusen in the very first leg of their last-16 connection at the BayArena.

Leverkusen were gunning for vengeance after their European removal through Atleti in 2014-15, as well as they had every need to be certain complying with an eight-game unbeaten run in the Champions League, with just Real Madrid on a longer touch.

The site visitors made an electrical beginning, Saul Niguez and also Antoine Griezmann placing them 2 goals up at half-time, prior to Karim Bellarabi drew one back early in the 2nd fifty percent.

Stefan Savic’s own-goal after a Kevin Gameiro charge triggered a late assault from Leverkusen, yet Atleti were constantly harmful on the break as well as Fernando Torres’ late header recovered their two-goal pillow.

A hefty house loss leaves Leverkusen’s possibilities of development dangling by a string in an underwhelming period that has actually seen head trainer Roger Schmidt eradicate records that he might be sacked.

Diego Simeone’s side have actually likewise had a hard time to duplicate their finest kind this term, as well as their new-found protective frailties got on display screen once again, yet a brilliant striking display screen bodes well for the weekend break’s encounter Barcelona.

Atletico promptly pinned Leverkusen back in their fifty percent from the off and also resembled opening up the racking up two times in fast sequence after simply 12 mins.

Griezmann initially called goalkeeper Bernd Leno right into activity with a reduced program from a slim angle, prior to Wendell struck his very own bar minutes later on with an awkward clearance after Filipe Luis’ cross from the.

There was no such getaway for the hosts 5 mins later on, nonetheless, as Saul handed Atletico the lead with a magnificent strike, reducing inside into his favoured left foot as well as crinkling an attractive shot right into the leading edge past the powerless Leno.

Points went from negative to even worse for Leverkusen as Aleksandar Dragovic accidentally sent out Gameiro on his method with a bad clearance on the midway line as well as the Frenchman competed clear prior to establishing Griezmann for a made up coating inside package.