Atletico Madrid secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen after coming from behind in the final moments of the game, during their UEFA Champions League 2024-25.
The Spanish side staged a remarkable comeback, playing with just 10 men after midfielder Pablo Barrios was sent off in the 25th minute for a reckless challenge on Leverkusen's Nordi Mukiele.
How Did Atletico Madrid Overcome the Numerical Disadvantage to Beat Leverkusen?
Bayer Leverkusen took the lead in first-half stoppage time, with Piero Hincapie scoring. However, Atletico Madrid refused to back down. In the second half, Argentine striker Julian Alvarez equalized in the 52nd minute with a well-taken counter-attack goal.
Leverkusen's Hincapie was then shown a second yellow card in the 76th minute, leaving both teams with 10 men. Atletico saw this as an opportunity to win, and in the 90th minute, Alvarez capitalized on a defensive mistake from Leverkusen to score the decisive goal and seal the win for his team.
After the match, Alvarez said: "Things looked tough, but we stuck to our game and our humility, and we got the equalizer. Then, with both teams down to 10 men, we saw the chance to win."
The victory lifted Atletico Madrid to third place in the Champions League standings, guaranteeing their direct qualification to the Round of 16. Alvarez added, "These are three very important points and show us the importance of believing in what we do."
This win strengthens Atletico Madrid's position in the tournament and provides a significant boost ahead of their final match against Red Bull Salzburg.
