Atletico Madrid progressed to the quarter-final of the Champions League with an assured draw in the second leg of their tie with Bayer Leverkusen. While the fixture remained goalless, it was certainly more than a dull affair with chances at both ends being met with equally good defending.
This is the fourth season in a row that Atletico have made it into the last-eight of the competition, and will be hoping for an extended run.
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Here are the talking points from the game.
#5 Goalkeepers come out on top in an entertaining fixture
From start to finish, the game was peppered with chances for both sides. Leverkusen made the brighter start, but it was their ‘keeper Leno who needed to make two big saves – one each from Correa and Koke – to keep things level in the first half.
However, the visitors were on the ascendancy in the second, and Jan Oblak was called into action on many occasions, including one where he pulled off a triple save albeit having his goal mouth adequately covered by defenders.
In total, the saves count read 6-4 in favour of the Atletico custodian and though the lack of sharp finishing was definitely a factor, both men between the sticks put in top class performances.
#4 Leverkusen step up their game, but can’t undo the damage
After their shoddy defensive display in the first leg, the German side put on a much better display in this game to show just how good they can be. While Brandt and Volland were bright in attack and tested Oblak, Hernandez got into very useful positions but failed to produce a definitive finish.
Bellarabi was a constant menace on the flank as well, and the ball seemed to find Baumgartlinger in midfield rather frequently.
The lack of incentive and maybe even belief that they could go through perhaps started to show towards the latter stages of the second half, leaving Tayfun Korkut wondering what his side might have achieved if they hadn’t shipped four away goals to Atletico in their home fixture.
#3 Atletico Madrid set up the perfect platform to take on Sevilla
Having seen their La Liga rivals crash out at the hands of Leicester City last night, Diego Simeone made doubly sure to avoid the same fate by playing a waiting game – quite suited to Atletico’s line-up on the night – and attempting attacks without losing shape at the back.
This was enough to see them through on the merit of their first leg performance, giving a Spanish majority to teams remaining in the competition.
Sevilla – who currently sit five points and one position above Atletico in the table – are the only team from Spain to have exited this year’s Champions League, and their downer will come as a boost to the Madrid side ahead of their league clash on Sunday.
#2 Leverkusen continue their struggle for form this year
After a bright start to the Bundesliga season, Leverkusen have found results hard to come by since the turn of the year and have slowly slipped down the table to find themselves currently in 10th spot.
Having conceded 15 goals in their previous five fixtures, this clean sheet would be something to celebrate in itself, but given that they have failed to win any of their three league fixtures since their first leg loss to Atletico there will understandably be no celebrations.
On the positive side, they are only four points off 6th position, which they will target first before looking upwards to secure a European spot.
#1 Simeone and Atletico survive the round of comebacks in style
On a night where Manchester City were added to the list of casualties of reverses from the first leg, Atletico showed everyone how it’s done with a composed performance that perhaps showed what “game management” is actually meant to be rather than a euphemism for time wasting.
The balance between defence and attack was perfectly maintained, meaning the team never lost shape, and Diego Godin ably supported Oblak’s brilliant performance in goal with some great defensive measures of his own.
All in all, Leverkusen had not even a remote chance at joining the likes of Leicester, Barcelona and Monaco – with Atletico slamming the door firmly shut. A performance that Unai Emery and Arsene Wenger will have watched with longing admiration.
