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7 months ago
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Atletico Madrid earned a 2-1 lead over Borussia Dortmund after surviving a late scare in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Diego Simeone's side had a dream start against their Bundesliga opponents with Rodrigo de Paul seizing on a loose pass from Ian Maatsen to give the hosts a fourth minute lead.
A rattled Dortmund were punished for another defensive error after a mix-up between Mats Hummels and Nico Sclotterbeck, with Samuel Lino finishing after a fine Antonie Griezmann pass.
Dortmund improved after the break and pulled a goal back through substitute Sebastien Haller, before Julian Brandt struck the crossbar in stoppage time with a header.
Mail Sport rates the players from the first leg at the Metropolitano.
Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring for Atletico Madrid after seized on a Dortmund mistake
Samuel Lino doubled the hosts' advantage following a superb assist by Antoine Griezmann
Sebastien Haller pulled a goal back for Borussia Dortmund in the closing stages in Madrid
Atletico Madrid - (3-5-2)
Had very little to do in the first half before being required to make a smart low stop from Maatsen's long-range drive.
Could do nothing about Haller's goal.
CESAR AZPILICUETA - 6
A crucial flick to turn Bynoe-Gittens' shot onto the crossbar at 2-1 up.
JOSE GIMENEZ - 6
Booked for a lunge on Ryerson.
AXEL WITSEL - 6
Made an important block to deny Adeyemi after a rare mistake from De Paul.
NAHUEL MOLINA -6
Provided width on the right for Atletico, but not as effective as Lino on the left. Unlucky to see the ball bounce off him into Haller's path for Dortmund's goal.
De Paul impressed for the hosts and was quick to latch on Dortmund's mistake for the opener
MARCOS LLORENTE - 6
Continued to raid forward from midfield to support the attack, with Simeone pushing him further forward after Morata was taken off.
Harshly booked after protesting when Can went down under minimal contact.
KOKE- 6
A strong presence in the centre of the Atletico Madrid midfield.
RODRIGO DE PAUL - 7
Gave Atletico the perfect start to the night with the Argentine alert to race onto Maatsen's loose pass before producing a composed finish.
Provided energy in the midfield, shown by when Emre Can was forced to accept a booking by fouling the World Cup winner on the counter.
SAMUEL LINO - 8
A constant threat raiding forward from his left wing back position. Calmly finished when put through one on one by Griezmann. Denied a second from point blank range by Kobel.
Will be a big miss for the second leg next week through suspension after a yellow card.
ALVARO MORATA - 6
Looked a threat in behind and in the air on his 50th Champions League start. Withdrawn midway through the second half as Simeone sought for more control in midfield.
Griezmann was Atletico Madrid's creative outlet as the hosts secured a first leg advantage
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN - 8
Superb all night as Atletico creative hub. Has been involved directly in seven goals in the competition this season.
His brilliant scooped pass found Lino for Atletico's second.
Subs
Pablo Barrios (For Morata, 64) - 6
Angel Correa (For De Paul, 80) - N/A
Saul Niguez (For Molina, 90) - N/A
Riquelme (For Lino, 90+1) - N/A
Stefan Savic (For Witsel, 90+1) - N/A
Borussia Dortmund (4-3-3)
GREGOR KOBEL - 6
Partly at fault for Atletico's opener after playing Maatsen into trouble. Produced a superb diving stop to deny Witsel, albeit the Belgian would have been offside.
Made an outstanding stop to deny Lino from close range, preventing the visitors from going 3-0 down.
JULIAN RYERSON - 5
Part of a Dortmund defence that struggled early on and struggled against the impressive Lino.
MATS HUMMELS - 5
Not how Hummels would have wanted his 500th appearance for Dortmund to have gone.
The veteran was part of a nervy back line in the opening stages and was involved in the mix-up leading to Atletico's second.
NICO SCHLOTTERBECK - 5
Equally at fault for Atletico's second after ducking under a header, with Morata able to regain possession.
Gregor Kobel made a crucial stop from Lino to prevent Dortmund from going 3-0 down
Ian Maatsen was at fault for the opening goal after playing a loose pass which was cut out
IAN MAATSEN - 4
At fault for Atletico's opener after his blind pass was cut out on the edge of the area. The error overshadowed the on-loan Chelsea defender's excellent recovery challenge on Morata moments earlier.
MARCEL SABITZER - 5
Struggled to get a grip of the midfielder early on.
EMRE CAN - 6
Dropped back from midfield into the defence to help out, but was unable to stem the early tide. Helped restore calm in the second half.
FELIX NMECHA - 5
Handed a start ahead of Julian Brandt but failed to shine in Madrid. Was brought off at half-time for the German.
JADON SANCHO - 7
Dortmund's bright spark, showing trickery out on the right flank showing quick feet. Shot over the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.
Jadon Sancho was a bright spark for Dortmund and showed his quick feet when dribbling
Haller came off the bench to pull a goal back for Dortmund to boost their semi-final hopes
KARIM ADEYEMI - 6
One of few Dortmund players to offer a threat in the first half, but asked to do too much against Atletico's packed defence.
NICLAS FULLKRUG - 5
Anonymous in the first half but starved of service. A good lay-off to set up a chance for Brandt in the second, but withdrawn on the hour mark.
Subs
Julian Brandt (For Nmecha, 45) - 7
Played a key role in helping Dortmund gain a foothold in the match after being brought on at half-time. Denied by the crossbar in stoppage time.
Sebastien Haller (For Fullkrug) - 7
Grabbed the crucial goal to give Dortmund hope in the tie, swiveling and striking a low effort into the corner.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (For Adeyemi 73) - 6
Another substitute to have an impact for Dortmund and was unlucky to see an effort deflected onto the bar.
Marco Reus (For Sabitzer, 84) - N/A
Salih Ozcan (For Can, 84) - N/A
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