Champions League: Madrid Secures 2-1 Lead Against Atletico in Round of 16
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Synopsis
In the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid. Rodrygo opened the scoring early, followed by Alvarez's equalizer. Brahim's stunning goal in the second half gave Madrid the edge as they head into the second leg.
Key Takeaways
- Real Madrid leads 2-1 after the first leg.
- Rodrygo and Brahim scored for Madrid.
- Julian Alvarez netted the equalizer for Atletico.
- The second leg will be crucial for both teams.
- Match set for March 12 at Metropolitano.
Madrid, March 5 (NationPress) The defending champions Real Madrid triumphed over Atletico with a score of 2-1 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, gaining the advantage in the matchup.
Rodrygo opened the scoring for Ancelotti’s squad just four minutes into the match, while Julian Alvarez equalized for Atletico in the 32nd minute. The second half saw Brahim net the winning goal with an impressive display of skill.
Madrid surged ahead early in the contest. Within four minutes, Valverde surprised Galan with a pinpoint pass to Rodrygo, who outpaced the Atletico defender, cut in from the right wing, and unleashed a stunning left-footed shot into the net. Just two minutes later, Rodrygo again outstripped Galan in speed, and as he entered the penalty area, he was brought down by the defender, according to Real Madrid reports.
In the 22nd minute, Vini Jr. attempted a shot from the edge of the box that Oblak successfully gathered, and around the half-hour mark, Rodrygo had a free-kick that nearly found the back of the net. Atletico leveled the score at 32 minutes when Alvarez delivered an angled shot from the perimeter of the area that sailed past Courtois. The teams went into halftime with the match tied at 1-1.
After the break, play continued until the 55th minute when Brahim showcased a brilliant piece of skill that restored the lead for the Whites. The forward received the ball within the box, evaded defenders, and expertly placed a right-footed shot past Oblak into the bottom corner, bringing the score to 2-1 in favor of Madrid.
Atletico responded, and just five minutes later they nearly equalized with a cross-shot from Griezmann, which Courtois managed to save.
The second leg to determine the quarterfinal spot is set for March 12 at the Metropolitano.
