Bayer Leverkusen will feel quite good after their 1-0 win over Atlético Madrid on Wednesday. Hakan Calhanoglu's strike early in the second half was the difference, as the Germans will take their advantage into the second leg in Spain. Atléti had a rough day, failing to click on offense, losing two players to injury and having midfielder Tiago shown a red card late in the match.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Atlético Madrid: Final score 1-0, Germans take a one goal lead to Spain
Hakan Calhanoglu is the hero for Bayer as they’ve got one tenuous foot into the quarterfinals after their first leg victory.
Bayer came the closest to opening the scoring in the first half when Emir Spahić hammered a shot off the woodwork from nearly 30-yards out. There wasn’t anything special to note in the build-up, just one of those moments where a player has some space, doesn’t see a better option and uncorks a shot. A mere inches prevented the Bayer defender from scoring a highlight reel goal.
Another interesting moment occurred midway through the half when the always excitable Atléti assistant Germán Burgos got into a shouting match with Bayer head coach Roger Schmidt. Diego Simeone joined in as well as fingers were pointed and exchanged, while a helpless fourth official tried to maintain peace. Presumably, the Atléti coaches were upset by Bayer’s decision to try and kick and frustrate their players.
Bayer finished the first half with 14 fouls to Atléti’s 3, yet the teams were even on yellows cards at one a piece.
Atléti came close to scoring as well in the 39th minute when Bernd Leno made a tremendous save on Antoine Griezmann. Arda Turan sent a big looping cross towards the Frenchman who was waiting and ready just a few feet from goal. Leno did a tremendous job scrambling over and preventing Griezmann from putting his side in front.
Simeone also had to make to first half substitutions for injuries as both Guilherme Siqueira and Saúl Ñíguez had issues. They were replaced by Jesus Gámez and Raúl García respectively.
Bayer finally broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, taking a 1-0 lead off the foot of Hakan Calhanoglu.
Karim Bellarabi did the heavy lifting, picking up the ball on the left wing and racing diagonally across the pitch, into the Atléti penalty area. After juking a defender with a quick stop move, he drew three Atléti player around him before sneaking a clever back heel pass to Calhanoglu who raced in behind him into the open space on the left side of the area. Calhanoglu's shocked rocketed past Miguel Moya, leaving Simeone less than pleased.
Atléti’s day got no better late in the second half as in a span of less than two minutes, they were denied a goal by a questionable call from the linesman, only to follow that up with Tiago being sent off for a second yellow card, meaning he’ll miss the second leg.
The injuries and red card are a problem for Simeone, so is Diego Godín not being available for the second leg thanks to a yellow card accumulation ban, but the scoreline really isn’t. An away goal would’ve been nice, but returning to the Calderon knowing you can still advance with a variety of results means there’s no need to panic.
Bayer: Leno, Hilbert, Papadopoulos, Spahic, Wendell, Castro, Bender (Rolfes 68’), Bellarabi, Calhanoglu (Brandt 87’), Heung-Min, Drmic (Kießling 80’)
Goals: Calhanoglu (57’)
Atléti: Moya, Juanfran, Godín, Miranda, Siqueira (Gámez 38’), Gabi, Tiago (red card 76’), Saúl (García 42’), Arda Turan (Torres 64’), Griezmann, Mandzukic
Goals: None
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