Bayer Leverkusen seized the first-leg initiative with
a 1-0 goal win over Aletico Madrid in Wednesday’s
UEFA Champions League last-16 tie.
Hakan Calhanoglu gave Bayer Leverkusen a 1-0
first-leg victory over 2014 beaten finalists Atletico
Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last 16 on
Wednesday.
The Turkey international’s second-half strike
proved enough to separate the sides at the
BayArena, with Karim Bellarabi instrumental in the
build up.
Leverkusen threatened in the opening half with Emir
Spahic being denied on two occasions, but they
were grateful to Bernd Leno for making two late
saves to keep the score level.
Following a goalless first 45 minutes the game was
finally brought to life just before the hour,
Calhanoglu converting with a powerful angled finish.
Even the introduction of Fernando Torres could not
inspire Atletico – who saw Tiago sent off late on –
as they failed to score for a second successive
Champions League game.
Roger Schmidt’s side will take a narrow advantage
to Spain for the second leg on March 17, knowing
another clean sheet will see them through to the
quarter-finals.
Leverkusen came out of the blocks quickly,
dominating possession, but were unable to find a
way through before half-time, Lars Bender wasting
the first opening in the seventh minute.
Bellarabi led a swift counter-attack for the hosts,
but, when the ball found Bender he dragged his
effort wide from the edge of the area.
The visitors were grateful to Mario Mandzukic five
minutes later as he cleared Spahic’s effort off the
line after the Bosnia defender had diverted
Wendell’s shot towards goal.
Spahic’s attempts to score a first Champions
League goal continued as the half hour approached,
with his long-range strike cannoning back off
Moya’s crossbar.
Atleti had been quiet in the final third inside the
opening 40 minutes, but Leno needed to be alert to
make two saves before the break.
Having pushed away Arda Turan’s lob before
Antoine Griezmann could head home, the
goalkeeper made a superb reaction save in
stoppage time to keep Tiago’s acrobatic volley out.
The deadlock was final broken in the 57th minute as
Calhanoglu collected a sumptuous backheel from
Bellarabi, before lashing the ball high into Moya’s
net.
Calhanoglu nearly had a second after 71 minutes,
the forward’s long-range free-kick taking a
deflection, but Moya was able to adjust and make
the save.
As the game opened up in the final 20 minutes both
sides had chances to score, with Torres – on for
Turan just past the hour – putting the ball into the
net in the 75th minute, only for referee Pavel
Kralovec to rule it out.
Atletico finished the game, which saw nine bookings
in total, with 10 men when Tiago was shown a
second yellow for a foul on Bellarabi.
His dismissal added to the Liga side’s frustrations
as they suffered their first Champions League
defeat since the opening group game.
!posted from Bloggeroid
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