Knockout round first leg of the Champions League – Calhanoglu locks the door on – Süddeutsche.de

• a surprisingly clear Bayer Leverkusen Atlético Madrid is superior and wins 1: 0 – best ways to stay but unused
• Coach Schmidt manages a tactical trick
• To see all the results.. and statistics of the Champions League is all about.

“If we score the first goal against Atlético Madrid which is also possible,” had Roger Schmidt, the coach of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen confidently announced before the knockout round first leg of the Champions League. But to score a goal against Atlético Madrid which is not so simple: In the last five preliminary round matches of the Champions League last year’s finalist had in fact played to zero. But this Wednesday evening Atlético had to once again take a hit, and handed Leverkusen deserved to 1: 0 (0: 0) in front of 30 210 spectators at the BayArena. Thus, the Werkself has also won the only German representative of a knockout round first leg.

“Against such a class team that’s a pound,” was Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller after the victory, “but it is of course nothing decided. ” The decision over progressing to the quarter-finals before falling in the second leg on March 17 in Madrid. “When we were there also achieve a goal, we have a good chance,” concluded before Völler. At least they have better than on their last two home games in the knockout round Champions League. Where there has been hearty rubbings: 2011/12 1: 7 against Barcelona in last season a 0. 4 against Paris St. Germain

As Atlético Madrid had done it the other day, the glorious city rivals Real 4: 0 herzuspielen was not clear on that evening. It took until the 39th minute, before Bayer goalkeeper Bernd Leno had to intervene for the first time: after a deflected cross, he played his size advantage (1.90 meters) to the header prepare Frenchman Antoine Griezmann (1.76) and smacked the ball away. Leno was called correctly only once, in injury time of the first half when he a scissors kick from Tiago deflected responsive after a corner.

A guided tour for guests but would have been undeserved, because in the Bundesliga last sixth slid down Leverkusen were surprisingly clearly the better team. “It was a very round game from us,” Schmidt praised his players. Which could possibly accuse you of not having made more of their opportunities. Several times came when chances on the last pass to, or has been the conclusion too weak. In the first half, Atlético’s Mario Mandzukic also rescued by a shot from Emir Spahic once before the line (12), once the cross bar was in the way, as Spahic from 30 yards just once scored (26), once cleared Madrid goalkeeper Miguel Moya after a pass from Bell Karim Arabi six-yard box by fist Josip Drmic (28)..

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The three changes of Bayer coach Schmidt compared to recent Bundesliga appearance at FC Augsburg (2: 2 ) had in any case been positive. Instead of Toprak, Rolfes and Brandt Spahic and the coach Roberto Hilbert had placed in the back four and Lars Bender penned it. Especially Benders use surprised, for he was only two days before returning to a meniscus contusion in training. “Lars is our best ball Conqueror, perhaps the best in the league,” said Schmidt: “As a player you have certainly like on the court.”

Because that enabled him yes, the creative forces Gonzalo Castro, who had recently defended far right, and Hakan Calhanoglu, who had been on Benders position to continue to move forward again, where they could provide behind the nominally single peak Josip Drmic for more pressure. The last summer has come from Nuremberg Swiss had again get preference over Stefan Kiessling, who was re-loaded only in the closing stages, but once again was unsuccessful experience.

It was also the interplay of two midfielders, which led to Leverkusen’s guide: Bell Arabi was back-heel the template to Calhanoglus powerful shot from half right into the near post (57). Only then loosened Atletico coach Diego Simeone’s defensive attitude of his team, he made his lone striker Mandzukic and acting as a coherent peak in Griezmann Fernando Torres another attacker to the side (64). Much caused no longer because of the defensive midfielder Tiago little later after repeated challenge with a yellow-red card flew off (76) and thus as central defender Godin (third yellow card) is missing in the return game. Against the decimated guests Leverkusen then had no more trouble, what is happening so sovereign control as in the first half.