KA bad start, a passable final spurt – Borussia Dortmund only managed to keep their chance of reaching the first semi-final in the Champions League in eleven years with great difficulty. Despite an early deficit and an initially worrying performance, coach Edin Terzic's team averted a decisive defeat in the 1:2 (0:2) against Atlético Madrid. Thanks to an increase in performance in the second half and the goal from substitute Sébastien Haller (81st minute), the fifth-place team in the Bundesliga doesn't have a chance going into the quarter-final second leg at home six days later.
In front of 70,000 spectators in a heated stadium atmosphere, Rodrigo de Paul (4th minute) and Samuel Lino (32nd) had the Madrilenians playing like unleashed in the first half, who remain unbeaten in knockout home games in the premier class under coach Diego Simeone , wholly deserved a 2-0 lead.
It was a special game, especially for Mats Hummels, as he appeared in the black and yellow jersey for the 500th time. But the celebratory player looked bad immediately after kick-off when he misjudged a counterattack by the Madrilenians and thus enabled Álvaro Morata (2nd) to have a great chance. Ian Maatsen blocked the ball with a tackle.
Early mistake leads to goal conceded
The infernal noise from the stands of the Estadio Metropolitano had a huge impact on the BVB professionals and led to a major false start. Dortmund seemed overwhelmed and couldn't cope with the hosts' aggressive pressing at all. The 0:1 after less than four minutes of the game was symbolic of this: goalkeeper Gregor Kobel unnecessarily delayed the pass to Maatsen, who played the ball with his outside instep right into the legs of goal scorer de Paul.
The early lead gave the eager fourth-placed team in the Spanish Primera División even more tailwind. BVB was too often left behind in direct duels, and when building up their own play, a bad pass was often made due to the opposition's pressure. Immediately before kick-off, sports director Sebastian Kehl warned against this “intense style of play” of the Madrilenians and demanded: “We have to show this resilience.”
That's why coach Terzic specifically ordered the physically stronger Felix Nmecha into the starting line-up to replace Julian Brandt, but when it came to physicality, Atlético was a class above. And BVB made too many mistakes. A blatant misunderstanding by the two BVB central defenders Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck enabled Lino to score the second goal of the evening after preparation by Antoine Griezmann.
The fifth-placed team in the Bundesliga only had their first chance to score in the 35th minute through Karim Adeyemi. Shortly before the half-time whistle, Maatsen tested Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak with a long-range shot, and Jadon Sancho, who had been pale for a long time, also came dangerously in front of the goal.
Even after the break, Dortmund tried to put more pressure on their opponents with substitute Brandt. But without Donyell Malen, who had to pass again due to muscular problems, an important offensive point was missing.
Atlético, with former BVB professional Axel Witsel, rarely had serious problems defensively with BVB's efforts. Kobel even had to prevent the third goal from being conceded against Lino after a free kick (76'). After Haller's goal there were still chances on both sides.
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