UEFA Champions League: Atletico Madrid Beats Dortmund 2-1
Atletico Madrid struck twice in a dominant first half but had to survive a late fightback from Borussia Dortmund before earning a 2-1 win in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg clash, at the Civitas Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain.
The Spanish club, looking for its first semi-final spot in seven years, opened the scoring after four minutes when Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel delayed a pass to defender Ian Maatsen as Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul intercepted it to slot home.
Atletico scored again courtesy of another defensive blunder as Samuel Lino, who will miss the return leg next week after being booked, doubled their lead in the 32nd from an Antoine Griezmann assist.
The Spaniards were in complete control in the first half but had to soak up late pressure from the Germans, who cut the deficit with Cote d’Ivoire international Sebastien Haller in the 81st minute and then twice hit the woodwork.
The match finished 2-1 in favour of Atletico Madrid as the hosts take the advantage going into the second leg in Germany.
Atlético take a slender advantage to Dortmund ❤️🤍#UCL pic.twitter.com/yEj0p2BXkT
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 10, 2024
“We won, which is the important thing,” said man-of-the-match Antoine Griezmann. “The end of the game doesn’t matter. It’s a shame about the goal we conceded and that feeling of being behind defending.”
“There were moments when we could have scored a third but the truth is that we have suffered a lot in the second half. But it’s a very important to win.”
“Now we need to go there and hopefully we can win. We know we have the level to reach the semis, we have demonstrated that on the pitch,” Griezmann added.
UEFA Champions League/Reuters/Chidi Nwoke.
