- Atletico Madrid secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Bayer Leverkusen, climbing into the top eight of the Champions League standings
- Julián Álvarez was the standout player, scoring both goals for Atletico, including the decisive winner in stoppage time
- Atletico played with 10 men for most of the match after Pablo Barrios’ red card in the 22nd minute
- Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapié scored the opening goal but was later sent off, leaving both teams with 10 players
Key Takeaways:
Atletico Madrid showcased their fighting spirit to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. The win not only reaffirmed their resilience but also propelled them into the top eight of the standings, bolstering their hopes for direct qualification to the Round of 16.
The match started with an early setback for Atletico when Pablo Barrios was shown a red card in the 22nd minute, forcing the team to play with 10 men for the majority of the game. Bayer Leverkusen capitalized on their advantage, with Piero Hincapié scoring just before halftime to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
PEW PEW PEW 🕷️ pic.twitter.com/VGkIcLFayF
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 21, 2025
However, the second half saw Atletico rally. Julián Álvarez equalized in the 52nd minute. The momentum shifted further when Hincapié, Bayer’s goal scorer, was sent off in the 76th minute, reducing the visitors to 10 men as well. With the match hanging in the balance, Álvarez struck again in the dying seconds, securing a thrilling victory for Diego Simeone’s side.
This hard-fought win comes after Atletico’s historic 15-game winning streak across all competitions was snapped by a 1-0 loss to Leganés in La Liga. For Bayer Leverkusen, the defeat interrupted their strong start to the year, which had seen them claim three consecutive wins and close the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich.
The two teams had an evenly matched history leading into the game, with three wins apiece and four draws in their 10 prior encounters. Their most recent meetings, during the 2022/23 Champions League group stage, saw Bayer win 2-0 in Germany and the reverse fixture end in a 2-2 draw at the Metropolitano.
With this victory, Atletico has accumulated 15 points and now sits in third place, edging closer to direct qualification. Bayer Leverkusen, with 13 points, is currently sixth, and their hopes of advancing remain alive but challenging.