Late goals from Robert Andrich and Moussa Diaby gave Bayer Leverkusen a memorable win at home to Atletico Madrid in UEFA Champions League Group B.

Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Goals: 1-0 Andrich 84' (assist: Frimpong), 2-0 Diaby 87' (assist: Frimpong)

Leverkusen began the game with two changes to their starting line-up from Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin. Jeremie Frimpong dropped to the bench, while Exequiel Palacios missed out through injury. In came Andrich and Piero Hincapie as Adam Hlozek made his Champions League debut to a lively reception at the BayArena. Die Werkself showed elements of maturity following a difficult start to the season, Patrik Schick getting the better of former Borussia Dortmund man Axel Witsel for much of the half but struggling to find the space to test Ivo Grbic in the Atleti net. Much of the half was spent in the midfield, with Leverkusen just having the edge over their visitors from the Spanish capital. Andrich placed a shot over the bar early in the half, while Kerem Demirbay sent an effort just wide of the post after some nice build-up play from Hincapie. The visitors had a VAR claim against Edmond Tapsoba for handball dismissed after 22 minutes, but did very little trouble to Lukas Hradecky throughout the half.

The second half saw Madrid make attacking changes at the break with Rodrigo De Paul offering some better opportunities in midfield for his teammates than Saul Niguez. Antonie Griezmann and Yannick Carrasco joined shortly after but couldn’t find an opening; Leverkusen’s defending was some of the best they’ve shown all season. At the other end, Diaby squeezed the ball through Schick, but the Czech international's strike smashed against the woodwork with Hlozek hitting the post on the rebound. The match was seemingly heading for a 0-0 draw, only for the introduction of Jeremie Frimpong to change the game. First, the 24-year-old broke through and cut the ball to Andrich on the edge of the box -  the former Union Berlin man curling the ball into the bottom left of Grbic’s goal. Three minutes later, Frimpong grabbed another assist, though credit goes to Schick for winning the ball back deep in his own half. Callum Hudson-Odoi and Frimpong took care of the rest, with the former Celtic man slipping the ball through to Diaby to tap home and seal victory.

Match stats

• These were Leverkusen’s first three points in the Champions League since 26 November 2019.
• All three of Leverkusen’s three Champions League victories over Atletico have been at the BayArena.
• Frimpong now has two assists to add to his two goals this season for Leverkusen.
• Summer loanee Hudson-Odoi was part of the Chelsea side that won the Champions League in 2021, knocking out Atletico in the round of 16.
• The Madrid club have managed just one clean sheet in 22 UEFA fixtures away in Germany (1-0 win vs. Carl Zeiss Jena in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1962). This was Atleti’s eighth defeat in Germany in their last nine games.
• Axel Witsel made 145 appearances for Dortmund, while Matheus Cunha played a combined 92 times for RB Leipzig and Hertha, including three goals against Leverkusen.

Teams

Leverkusen: Hradecky (c) – Kossounou, Tah, Tapsoba (Bakker 89’), Hincapie – Andrich, Demirbay – Diaby (Azmoun 89’), Hlozek (Frimpong 69’), Hudson-Odoi (Amiri 90+1) – Schick (Aránguiz 89’)
Unused subs: Lomb, Neutgens, Paulinho, Fosu-Mensah
Coach: Gerardo Seoane

Atletico: Oblak – Felipe, Witsel, Hermoso – Molina (Griezmann 62’), Niguez (De Paul 46’), Llorente, Koke (c), Reinildo (Carrasco 62’) – Felix (Correa 73’), Morata (Cunha 73’)
Unused subs: Gomis, Mestre, Kondogbia, Sergio Diez, Alberto Moreno, Marco Moreno
Coach: Diego Simeone

As it happened

2 - 0

(0 - 0)

Leverkusen

FINAL

Atletico

Champions League
Matchday 2 Matchday 2 BayArena

90'

+ 5

IT'S ALL OVER!

If there's any team that needed a confidence boosting performance in Europe - it's Leverkusen. 2-0 the final score. UEFA Champions League nights are well and truly back at the BayArena.

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Substitution

Nadiem Amiri

Callum Hudson-Odoi

89'

Substitution

Charles Aránguiz

Patrik Schick

89'

Substitution

Mitchel Bakker

Edmond Tapsoba

89'

Substitution

Sardar Azmoun

Moussa Diaby

87'

A QUICKFIRE DOUBLE

It's two! Schick wins the ball back deep in his half and lays it Hudson-Odoi. He streams down the right, with Frimpong on the overlap before the flying Dutchman sends the ball to the back post for Diaby to finish. Incredible counter-attack and forward momentum from Leverkusen.

87'

Moussa Diaby

GOAL!

2:0

84'

AND ANDRICH LEAVES IT LATE!

Wow! Frimpong manages to find a way through through the Atletico Madrid full back. He lays it to Andrich on the edge of the box who slots it to the left corner to give Leverkusen a late lead.

84'

Robert Andrich

GOAL!

1:0

77'

CAREFUL

Andrich becomes the third Leverkusen player to enter the referee's book tonight.

77'

Yellow card

Robert Andrich

73'

FRIMPONG IN AND HUNGRY

Jeremie Frimpong has jumped into the action full throttle and has an effort on goal but the shot is blocked.

73'

Substitution

Angel Correa

Joao Felix

73'

Substitution

Matheus Cunha

Alvaro Morata

69'

Substitution

Jeremie Frimpong

Adam Hložek

62'

TWO CHANGES

Atletico Madrid make two attacking changes. Griezmann and Carrasco join the action.

62'

Substitution

Antoine Griezmann

Nahuel Molina

62'

Substitution

Yannick Carrasco

Reinildo

55'

DE PAUL LOOKING LIVELY FROM THE VISITORS

It's a fresh looking Atleti in the second period, with the Argentinian bringing the visitors a lot more joy in possession of the ball in midfield.

48'

SCHICK HITS THE BAR

It's an incisive Leverkusen breakaway Diaby squeezes it through to Schick who has the whole net to aim at but puts his effort onto the bar. The follow-up from Hlozek also hits the post. So close!

47'

QUICK START TO THE SECOND 45 FROM ATLETI

Molina and Felix both with efforts at goal.

46'

Substitution

Rodrigo De Paul

Saúl Ñíguez

46'

WELCOME BACK

De Paul is on for the visitors. The Argentinian replacing Saul who had a quiet first half.

45'

SMART STUFF FROM LEVERKUSEN

It's never an easy task against Atletico but Leverkusen have handled the pressure considerably well so far. If they can start to test Grbic a little more they could be in with a shout of the win tonight.

Half-time

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

Leverkusen's Lukas Hradecky loves performing in front of the home crowd and has produced some smart stops this evening.

© imago

41'

HALF CHANCES GALORE

Leverkusen are enjoying more possession and more shots than their Spanish opponents so far this evening. That's not to say the visitors aren't without their efforts, but the hosts can be happy with their efforts in the opening half.

39'

Yellow card

Jonathan Tah

35'

LIVELY GAME FOR HUDSON-ODOI

On only his third Leverkusen start, Callum Hudson-Odoi has enjoyed a lively first half. You can already see entertainment in the eyes of the Werkself fans as they watch their new English prospect in action.

32'

Yellow card

Odilon Kossounou

26'

DEMIRBAY GOES CLOSE

Hincapie starts a super Leverkusen move. Hlozek takes over, squares it to Demirbay but he sends his effort just wide.

24'

VAR CHECK

Leverkusen are victims of a VAR check against a potential Tapsoba handball but after a lengthy delay the check is over and the decision: no penalty.

12'

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT

Adam Hložek is making his first UEFA Champions League appearance at the BayArena tonight.

7'

CLOSE!

Hincapie dangerous on the left sends in a dangerous cross that's half-cleared. The ball finds its way to Andrich, who sends an effort just over the bar.

3'

SCHICK VS WITSEL

Almost a sneaky break from Schick is quickly dealt with by Witsel. The battle between these two will be a must-watch this evening.

1'

TIME TO GO

We're underway at the BayArena!

ANOTHER FAMILIAR FACE ON THE BENCH FOR ATLETI

Matheus Cunha scored three times against Leverkusen during his spells at RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin. The Brazilian now plys his trade in Madrid and will be hoping to join the action at some point this evening.

VISITS TO GERMANY ARE NOT ATLETI'S FORTE

Los Colchoneros have managed just one clean sheet in 21 UEFA fixtures away in Germany. Their recent record away at Bundesliga clubs is seven defeats in their last eight with their last matchup a 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in 2020/21.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bayer won 2-1 at home in their last meeting with Atletico in the 2019/20 group stage.

MORE ON THOSE TEAMS

Leverkusen make two changes from Saturday's 2-2 draw at Hertha Berlin. Andrich and Hincapie come into the side at the expense of Palacios and Frimpong. Former Borussia Dortmund star Axel Witsel starts in a five-man defence for the visitors.

LEVERKUSEN STARTING XI

Hradecky - Kossounou, Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Demirbay, Andrich, Hlozek - Diaby, Hudson-Odoi, Schick

LEVERKUSEN SUBS

Lomb, Neutgens, Bakker, Paulinho, Azmoun, Amiri, Aranguiz, Fosu-Mensah, Frimpong

ATLETICO STARTING XI

Grbic - Molina, Felipe, Witsel, Hermoso, Reinildo - Llorente, Koke, Saul - Morata, Felix

ATLETICO SUBS

Gomis, Mestre, Kondogbia, De Paul, Griezmann, Cunha, Correa, Carrasco, Diez, A. Moreno, M. Moreno

FAMILIAR FOES

This will be the seventh time that Leverkusen have met Atlético in the UEFA Champions League. The Werkself have won on two of those occasions and drawn once.

WELCOME!

The BayArena is the setting for Leverkusen's UEFA Champions League homecoming as they welcome back Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid for the first time since November 2019.

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