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Atletico Madrid hosted Bayer Leverkusen at the Wanda Metropolitano as they aimed to take a major step towards qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Diego Simeone's side weren't at their best but they salvaged a hard-fought victory against a resilient Leverkusen side, courtesy of a header from substitute Alvaro Morata.
Teenage sensation Joao Felix was missing for Atleti after picking up an injury against Valencia and the Rojiblancos lacked cohesion up front in his absence.
Jose Gimenez was withdrawn in the opening exchanges of the game with a hamstring problem and Mario Hermoso took his place in the heart of the defence. The Spaniard impressed since coming on and looked assured at the back, alongside fellow new signing Felipe.
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Atleti struggled to create clear-cut chances and were made to wait till the 78th minute for the opener, as Renan Lodi's inch-perfect cross was turned in by substitute Alvaro Morata.
The Brazilian full-back was one of the standout players of the game as he contributed to both phases of play. Aside from being resolute defensively, Lodi also supplied the match-winning assist and the 22-year-old produced one of his best performances since his move to the Spanish capital.
As Leverkusen came to the Wanda Metropolitano and refused to sit back, let's look at three reasons why the Rojiblancos registered a hard-fought victory in the Champions League.
#1 Diego Simeone's substitutions did the trick in a cagey encounter
As Atletico looked lacklustre upfront, Simeone decided to freshen things up and introduced Thomas Lemar and Alvaro Morata to turn the tides in his favour.
The pair looked lively since coming on and the home side grabbed a grip on the game in the closing stages.
Lemar added some much-needed energy from the wings and Atleti looked more threatening since his introduction. Morata, on the other hand, produced the most decisive moment of the game as his header from Lodi's inch-perfect ball led to the opening goal of the game.
In a game that came down to the finest of margins, Simeone's substitutes produced the trick for him as the Rojiblancos took a major step towards qualification to the knockout stages.
#2 Atleti felt Joao Felix's absence
Teenage sensation Joao Felix was missing for the game owing to an ankle injury he picked up against Valencia in the weekend and Atletico looked toothless up front in his absence.
Diego Costa spearheaded the attack alongside Angel Correa but the pair failed to make an impact as Leverkusen contained them for large parts of the game.
Felix joined Atleti this summer for a record-breaking fee believed to be in the region of €123 million and the youngster has made a name for himself as one of the most exciting young players in world football.
Atleti lacked inspiration upfront and needed an Alvaro Morata goal late in the second half to open the scoring. In recent weeks, Felix has been one of the standout performers for the Rojiblancos and his absence was apparent as Leverkusen nearly left the Spanish capital with a point.
#3 Renan Lodi continues to enhance his growing reputation
It was a summer of change for Atletico Madrid as the likes of Diego Godin, Lucas Hernandez Antoine Griezmann and Filipe Luis departed the club among others.
The Spanish giants snapped up young full-back Renan Lodi from Athletico Paranaense for a meagre fee and the young Brazilian has made a name for himself in double-quick time.
Since his move to the Spanish capital, Lodi has become an undisputed starter for Diego Simeone's side and the Brazilian international enhanced his reputation further with an assured performance in both phases of play.
Lodi kept the Leverkusen attackers at bay and produced a decisive moment on the other end of the pitch as his wonderfully whipped cross was met by Alvaro Morata for the solitary goal of the game.
The 22-year-old has established himself as one of the most exciting full-backs in world football and has seamlessly adapted to glitz and glamour of football's biggest club competition.
