“Leverkusen are a very strong side and Javier Hernandez is in fine form”. Having recently been knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Barcelona, the Champions League is Atletico’s only shot at real glory.
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The two-goal cushion, along with four away goals, will allow Diego Simeone’s men to approach the second leg of the last-16 tie with calmer nerves.
Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt said: “We took a while finding our game today”.
Atletico is in a comfortable position, but not as comfortable as when it was up 3-1.
In addition, Koke said: “The team has read the game very well tactically”.
Speaking in the mixed zone at the Bay Arena afterwards, he said he had not wanted to come off, but added that the important thing was the result for the team.
‘Yes, I was angry because you want to play the whole match when you’re playing well, ‘ he told Marca.
“We may not get a lot of chances so his efficiency will help us”.
“I’m feeling good physically and mentally”, he said. However, they haven’t progressed past the round of 16 since 2001/02 when they were beaten finalists. The match will begin at 1:15 am IST on 22nd February.
However, it appears to have only fuelled the sharpshooter’s ambition with his current club.
The 29-year-old was brilliant once more for the Spanish side in a six-goal thriller against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.
Realistically, Atletico’s challenge is to usurp Sevilla to finish third, while fending off the threat from Champions League qualification challengers Real Sociedad and Villarreal.
Among the goalscorers was Antoine Griezmann, who overtook Luis Aragonés as the club’s top scorer in the competition.
The 14 goals scored in both games, means that a single day of Champions League football has finally broken the seven goal barrier.
This is a tight betting heat according to Sky Bet.
While it may be hard for Brandt to turn down Real Madrid should they officially make a move, it could certainly be argued that a move to Liverpool could be the smarter one.
Griezmann made it 2-0 on a counterattack eight minutes later.
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