Bayer Leverkusen sitting pretty after first-leg win over Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals following their shock 1-0 home win over last season’s finalists, Atletico Madrid, who finished with 10 men on Wednesday.
Hakan Calhanoglu’s superb second-half goal in the last 16, first-leg clash means Bayer take a slender advantage to Atletico’s Vicente Calderon Stadium for the return leg on March 17.
“I think we were clearly the better team and therefore we deserved the win,” said Calhanoglu.
I gave it all I had for the goal, but we have to play just as well in the return leg as we did today and then we have a good chance
“I gave it all I had for the goal, but we have to play just as well in the return leg as we did today and then we have a good chance.”
Reigning Spanish league champions Atletico played the last quarter of an hour with 10 men after defensive midfielder Tiago was sent off for a second booking.
“The result makes things tough for the second half, but we still have a chance,” said Atletico captain Gabi.
Bayer, the 2002 Champions League finalists, edge closer to breaking their last-16 jinx having failed to pass this stage of the competition in their last three previous attempts.
