- Atletico Madrid’s brilliant start against Borussia Dortmund helped them secure a 2-1 win over the German side
- Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring for Atletico inside four minutes and then Samuel Lino doubled the advantage shortly after half the hour mark
On Wednesday, April 10, Atletico Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 during the Atletico Madrid vs Dortmund match played at the Estadio Metropolitano.
Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring for the Spanish side inside four minutes and then Samuel Lino doubled the advantage shortly after half the hour mark. Sebastian Haller grabbed a goal that could be crucial for Dortmund in the second leg of this UEFA Champions League fixture with less than ten minutes to play. The German side have now lost their last five Champions League quarter-final matches.
Atletico Madrid vs Dortmund. Photo/ Sportsnet.
Just like the the other Champions League quarter-final ties played this week, the second leg of this fixture will be the decider as it is far from over. Dortmund coach Edin Terzic admitted his side didn’t play well in the first period of the match but was impressed by the performance late on and is looking forward to the return leg which will be played in Germany next week.
“Everything remains open. The first 30 minutes were not good enough. Often, at this level, it’s already over if you make so many mistakes. But we didn’t accept that and still managed to show what we’re capable of. We made too many mistakes, but more important to me is the reaction we showed. In the end, a draw wouldn’t have been undeserved. Now we look forward to what’s coming in six days.” Edin Terzic said after the Atletico Madrid vs Dortmund match as quoted by UEFA.com.
How The Atletico Madrid Vs Dortmund Match Unfolded
Atletico Madrid reached the quarter-finals of this season’s UEFA Champions League after eliminating Serie A giants Inter Milan in the round of 16 via penalties. Wanting to avoid such a narrow escape in this stage of the competition, they started brightly against Borussia Dortmund and went in front barely four minutes into the match.
A Dortmund error at the back allowed midfielder Rodrigo De Paul to pounce on a pass and then clinically finish past Gregor Kobel. The Argentine’s opener, which came after 3 minutes 58 seconds was Atletico’s earliest Champions League goal since Saul Niguez scored against Liverpool in 3 minutes 46 seconds back in 2020.
Atletico dominated the proceedings at the Estadio Metropolitano early in this match, with Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata having chances to increase the advantage.
Borussia Dortmund came close to scoring for the first time in this match at half the hour mark when Felix Nmecha headed over Jadon Sancho’s well taken corner. Edin Terzic’s side were made to pay for that missed opportunity shortly afterwards when Samuel Lino found the back of the net to increase the hosts advantage to 2-0.
Once again, it was a defensive error at the back that led to the goal as miscommunication between Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck allowed Atletico to win the ball before Griezmann fed Lino with a sublime pass to finish.
Dortmund looked rejuvenated after the break and even came close to scoring early on but Julian Brandt, who was introduced at half time, saw his effort deflected wide.
Rodrigo De Paul (centre) opened the scoring for Atletico Madrid. Photo/ FC Barcelona Noticias.
Atletico looked contended to preserve their two-goal lead and all was going well until the 81st minute when substitute Sebastian Haller pulled one back for the visitors. The Ivory Coast international did well to get to Brandt’s pass before firing past Jan Oblak.
Dortmund would have levelled the scores in stoppage time but Brandt’s header hit the woodwork. The defeat in Spain brought to an end Dortmund’s seven-match unbeaten run in the Champions League (W4 D3). The German side will now rely on the famous Yellow Wall back at home to win the second leg and proceed to the semi-finals of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login