Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen AET (1-1 on agg., 3-2 pens):

Atletico Madrid are in the Champions League
quarter-finals after overcoming Bayer Leverkusen
3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 aggregate draw.
Mario Suarez's first-half goal had levelled the tie
before a scoreless second half and 30 minutes of
extra-time led to a nervy and error-strewn
shootout, in which five efforts were missed.
Fernando Torres' cool strike put Atleti into the
lead after their set of five, and Kiessling skied his
shot way over the bar to settle matters in favour
of last year's runners-up.
It was a dramatic ending to a match that saw
Atleti quickly assert themselves in front of a
raucous home crowd, but they were unable to
capitalise on Leverkusen's early mistakes.
Atleti's wastefulness was nearly punished in the
10th minute as Karim Bellarabi jinked away from
three challenges on the edge of the penalty area,
before seeing his low effort was deflected wide.
The hosts – who were forced to replace
goalkeeper Moya midway through the half – were
soon back on the front foot and got their reward
after 27 minutes.
Levekusen failed to clear a free kick and Suarez –
one of five Atleti changes from the first leg –
fired home from the edge of the penalty area,
albeit with a deflection off Omer Toprak.
Suarez went close to putting Atleti ahead in the
tie with a curling 20-yard effort before the break,
while Hakan Calhanoglu failed to apply the
finishing touch to a late Leverkusen counter.
A cagey opening to the second half saw chances
at a premium, with Arda Turan wasting the first
sight of goal 24 minutes after the restart.
The Turkey international was unable to control his
volley from an Antoine Griezmann cross, while
substitute Raul Garcia was inches away from
diverting a Koke free kick beyond Bernd Leno
soon after.
Leverkusen offered little going forward throughout
the half and the Bundesliga outfit were grateful to
their goalkeeper with nine minutes remaining as
he got down well to save another Turan effort.
There was more attacking intent from the visitors
early in extra time following the introduction of
Kiessling, but again they needed Leno to keep
them in the game as he made a reflex save
denied Raul Garcia after 108 minutes.
And so to penalties it went, with both sides
missing their opening efforts, before Griezmann
and Suarez settled the hosts' nerves with smart
finishes either side of Simon Rolfes converting.
An abysmal effort from Toprak flew over the
crossbar to give Atleti the advantage, but a
superb save from Leno to deny Koke brought the
visitors back into contention.
Gonzalo Castro levelled things up with a confident
finish, before Torres converted and Kiessling
blazed over to give Diego Simeone's side a place
in Friday's draw for the quarter-finals.
Source: goal.com

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