Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League mission with Juventus stalled on Wednesday as Atletico Madrid secured a deserved 2-0 victory from a thrilling first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Ronaldo returned to the Spanish capital, where he enjoyed unprecedented success in this tournament with Real, but it was their rivals celebrating at the final whistle as goals from Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin put Atletico within sight of the quarter-finals.
“We are not through yet,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
“There is another match to play and we know we will have to suffer.” “Fortunately we didn’t concede a third,” said Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri.
“Because 2-0 is a result that can be turned around. We’re not dead yet.”
But this was a victory that Simeone’s side fully deserved.
Antoine Griezmann had hit the crossbar while VAR twice intervened, correctly, in Juve’s favour, cancelling a penalty for a foul on Diego Costa and then ruling out an Alvaro Morata header just before Gimenez struck.
While Juventus tried to preserve the stalemate, Atletico were bold. Simeone introduced Morata, Thomas Lemar and Angel Correa, all around the hour-mark, and his daring paid off.
Juve are certainly not dead and buried, particularly given Costa and Thomas Partey will both be suspended for the return in Turin after each picked up yellow cards. But the failure to score an away goal, and their clear inferiority in the second half does not bode well for any hopes of a comeback. (AFP)
