On Wednesday, Atletico Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, despite the visitors’ late onslaught.
Rodrigo De Paul and Samuel Lino’s first-half goals gave Diego Simeone’s side a dominating lead, but Sebastien Haller equalized to give the Germans a footing in the tie ahead of the second leg in Dortmund next week.
Edin Terzic’s fifth-place Bundesliga team improved dramatically after a poor start, hitting the woodwork twice in the final stages of a match that saw security measures tightened after the Islamic State (IS) group threatened venues used for last-eight fixtures.
Atletico Madrid had burst out of the gate, eager to seize a wonderful opportunity to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2017.
Dortmund couldn’t handle the Rojiblancos’ intense push, and De Paul put the hosts ahead after Ian Maatsen threw the ball away.
Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel delivered the ball to the on-loan Chelsea defender, who panicked under pressure and threw a sloppy pass that De Paul happily intercepted.
The Argentina international finished gently, exaggerating the already boisterous Metropolitano stadium atmosphere.
During Simeone’s 12 years in charge, Atletico has not lost a single home Champions League knockout game and has continued to charge forward with confidence.
Kobel saved a fantastic backheel flick by former Dortmund midfielder Axel Witsel, who will be an important part of Atletico’s defence after joining in 2022.
The only downside to Atletico’s excellent first half was a booking for Lino, which will keep him out of the second match.
A few minutes later, the Brazilian extended his team’s lead following another Dortmund defensive blunder.
Mats Hummels, making his 500th appearance for Dortmund, mishit a header into Alvaro Morata’s path, and he and Antoine Griezmann combined to feed Lino, who slid a low attempt past Kobel.
Dortmund created their first opening after 35 minutes, but Witsel jumped in to divert Karim Adeyemi’s attempt onto the roof of Jan Oblak’s net.
Prior to the interval, the Slovenian goalkeeper denied Manchester United loanee winger Jadon Sancho and Maatsen.
Terzic substituted Julian Brandt for Felix Nmecha at halftime in search of an attacking spark.
Without top goalscorer Donyell Malen, the Bundesliga side struggled to find a way past Oblak, who stopped from Niclas Fuellkrug early in a much tighter second half.
Kobel produced an incredible save to deny Lino his second goal from point blank range, and Dortmund quickly capitalized on it through replacement Haller.
Nahuel Molina made bad contact on a clearance, and the ball dropped to the tall attacker, who smashed it past Oblak.
Despite the visitors gaining a foothold in the game, Atletico hung on by the skin of their teeth, while Dortmund suffered their first away defeat in four months.
Hummels atoned for his earlier error with a magnificent challenge on Angel Correa as he raced in on goal, before Dortmund twice came close to equalising.
English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens’ long-range shot bounced off Cesar Azpilicueta’s head and struck the crossbar.
Brandt also headed against the goal frame in stoppage time during a frenetic conclusion.
Simeone celebrated his 50th Champions League victory as a coach, becoming the eighth man to do so.
One thing Simeone and Atletico have yet to accomplish is winning the Champions League, but this victory is a tentative step toward the semi-finals.