UCL: 10-Man Atlético Madrid Defy Odds to Beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1

Atlético Madrid staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League, with Julián Alvarez scoring the winning goal despite the hosts being reduced to 10 men.

Atlético Madrid pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League, ending the German champions' 11-match winning streak in all competitions. The victory propelled Atlético into the top three, overtaking Leverkusen in the process.

The match began with a lively atmosphere at the Metropolitano, but it was quickly subdued as Bayer Leverkusen asserted their dominance over possession. The visitors' control of the game was evident, with Florian Wirtz and Nathan Tella both being denied by Jan Oblak. Tella also had a goal ruled out for offside in the build-up, further emphasizing Leverkusen's superiority.

Atlético Madrid's task of gaining momentum in the game became even more challenging in the 25th minute. Pablo Barrios was initially given a yellow card for a high challenge on Nordi Mukiele, but a VAR review led to his dismissal, reducing Atlético to 10 men. This setback seemed to put the hosts at a significant disadvantage, but they would ultimately defy the odds to secure a remarkable comeback victory.

Atlético Madrid relied heavily on their renowned defensive prowess to withstand the intense pressure from Bayer Leverkusen. As the interval approached, the visitors seemed to lose momentum, and Atlético began to pose a greater threat despite being a man down.

Just as it seemed that Atlético would reach the break on level terms, Leverkusen delivered a decisive blow. In the first minute of stoppage time, Piero Hincapie headed home at the back post from Nordi Mukiele's cross, giving Leverkusen a 1-0 lead at halftime.

Xabi Alonso sought to capitalize on his team's advantage by introducing striker Patrik Schick in place of wing-back Mukiele for the second half. However, this substitution ultimately backfired. Only seven minutes into the second half, Atlético equalized out of nowhere. A rapid counter-attack saw Antoine Griezmann play a long ball behind the defense, and Julián Alvarez seized the opportunity, beating Jonathan Tah to the ball, holding off Alejandro Grimaldo, and scoring with a scuffed shot past Matěj Kovář.

The momentum had shifted in Atlético's favor, and the contest took another significant turn when Piero Hincapie received a second yellow card for a clumsy foul on Giuliano Simeone. This reduction to ten men for Leverkusen eliminated their numerical advantage, and Atlético continued to press for a winner.

Bayer Leverkusen had completely lost their grip on the match, and the energetic home crowd sensed the shift in momentum. The atmosphere became increasingly intense, with Diego Simeone and his son Giuliano Simeone at the forefront of the excitement.

As Leverkusen's composure began to unravel, it seemed almost inevitable that Atlético would score the winning goal. Julián Alvarez was the man who delivered, combining with Angel Correa before rounding Matěj Kovář and slotting home the decisive goal. This victory extended Atlético's unbeaten run in home head-to-head matches against Leverkusen to six matches.

Alvarez inspires Atleti comeback 😤#UCL pic.twitter.com/bmaPtZAyNO

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 21, 2025

The defeat marked only the fourth loss for Leverkusen since the start of last season. However, it also continued their poor record in Spain, where they have struggled to secure European away wins. In fact, Leverkusen's last European away victory in Spain dates back to the 2013/14 season.