Atletico Madrid on Wednesday earned a 2-1 UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg victory over Borussia Dortmund, surviving a late onslaught from the visitors.
Rodrigo de Paul and Samuel Lino’s first-half goals gave Diego Simeone’s side a commanding lead, but Sebastien Haller pulled one back to give the German side a foothold in the tie ahead of next week’s return leg in Dortmund, Germany.
Edin Terzig said that his side, fifth in the Bundesliga, were “very nervous” in the first half, but they improved and hit the woodwork twice in the final stages of a match that saw security measures reinforced after the Islamic State group made threats against stadiums used for last-eight ties.
Photo: AFP
Atletico Madrid had flown out of the traps, keen to grasp a golden opportunity to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2017.
“We took a little first step, we wanted to win at home,” De Paul told Movistar. “Here we are strong, the fans give us a boost, these nights are incredible — you never know if they will be repeated, the truth is I am very happy. When you win, I always think it’s positive because if not, you never enjoy anything.”
Despite not forcing an equalizer, Dortmund captain Emre Can said that his team were content with the result.
Photo: Reuters
“On such a night, one can also go under ... there were phases where they completely overpowered us in the duels,” Can told DAZN. “So, we’ll take the 2-1 and everything is open for next week.”
Dortmund could not cope with the Rojiblancos’ high press in the opening stages and De Paul fired the hosts ahead in the fifth minute after Ian Maatsen gave the ball away.
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel passed the ball to the on-loan Chelsea defender, who panicked under pressure and played a slack pass that De Paul gleefully intercepted before tucking home.
Photo: AP
Atletico have not lost any of their home Champions League knockout games during Simeone’s 12 years at the helm and continued to flood forward confidently at the baying Metropolitano.
Kobel clawed away a brilliant backheel flick by former Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel, a key part of Atletico’s backline after his move in 2022.
The only negative note from a fine Atletico first half was a booking Lino earned, ruling him out for the second leg.
A few minutes later the Brazilian doubled his team’s lead after another Dortmund defensive mix-up.
Mats Hummels, on his 500th appearance for Dortmund, badly directed a header into Alvaro Morata’s path, and he and Antoine Griezmann combined to feed Lino, who slid a low effort past Kobel.
Terzic brought on Julian Brandt for Felix Nmecha at halftime in search of more attacking spark.
Missing sick top goalscorer Donyell Malen, the Bundesliga side struggled to find a way past Oblak, who saved from Niclas Fuellkrug early in a far tighter second half.
On-loan Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho began to get move involved for Dortmund, who pulled one back in the 81st minute, although not before Kobel made a stunning save to deny Lino his second.
Nahuel Molina miskicked a clearance and the ball fell to towering striker Haller who drove it beyond Oblak.
Despite the visitors finding a foothold, Atletico held on by the skin of their teeth and Dortmund fell to their first away defeat in four months.
English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens’ long-range drive deflected off Cesar Azpilicueta’s head and hit the crossbar, while Brandt nodded off the woodwork in a frantic finale.
Simeone was able to celebrate his 50th Champions League victory as a coach, becoming the ninth man to achieve the feat.
Simeone and Atletico have yet to conquer the Champions League, but this win is a shaky step toward the semi-finals.
However, Dortmund’s second-half display showed it would not be a walk in the park.
“We were very nervous and conceded two easy goals [then] we managed to correct the situation,” Terzic said. “I told them to calm down — we didn’t draw, but now we have a result that leaves the door open.”
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