Holders Real hold slight advantage over Atletico in Champions League last-16
by AFP · The42Champions League Last-16 First Leg Results
Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Lille
Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico
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HOLDERS REAL MADRID secured a slender 2-1 lead in their Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid after Tuesday’s first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, as Brahim Diaz scored a superb second-half winner.
Rodrygo hammered home a left-footed strike to put the hosts ahead in the fourth minute and Diaz curled in the game’s decisive goal 10 minutes after half-time, following Julian Alvarez’s spectacular equaliser for Atletico.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico, who lost in the 2014 and 2016 finals against their bitter rivals, kept stars Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe quiet but still came up short.
The Rojiblancos played it safe in the final stages, seeming to accept their one-goal disadvantage for the second leg derby clash at home next week.
Atletico host Real Madrid next week at the Metropolitano stadium, with the winner facing Arsenal or PSV Eindhoven in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund were held to a 1-1 home draw by Lille in their Champions League last-16 first leg after a second-half equaliser from visiting midfielder Hakon Haraldsson.
Last season’s losing finalists were in control after Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring 22 minutes in, thumping in a low shot from the edge of the box.
But Lille striker Jonathan David took advantage of some sleepy Dortmund defending in the 68th minute, threading a ball through to Haraldsson, who was one-on-one with goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and poked home.
Dortmund will need to win in northern France next week should they wish to stay in Europe and salvage what has so far been a disappointing season.
For Lille, the result boosts their hopes of reaching a first-ever Champions League quarter-final.