The first leg was less talked about as the other three quarter-finals of the Champions League offered stunning spectacles. However, Atlético's victory (2-1) did not fail to capsize the Civitas Metropolitano which found Antoine Griezmann, returning to the competition after having missed the last gathering of the France team.
In the first leg, the number 7 of the Colchoneros once again displayed his technique and displayed his sense of the game against the Yellows and Blacks, offering an assist to Samuel Lino for the 2-0. A goal which resulted from a new error by the German defense, already at fault in Atlético's opener at the start of the match. Gregor Kobel, vigilant in his cages, finally allowed Edin Terzic's men to stay in the game before Sébastien Haller's impeccable score was reduced at the very end of the match.
A goal of capital importance which allows the Germans to believe in qualification for the last four of the Champions League which they have not reached since 2013, the year of the final lost to Bayern Munich. “When you play against Atlético, individual errors are immediately punished. But the reaction is much more important. We are ready to correct the mistakes,” said Edin Terzic on Monday, who also announced Sébastien Haller’s withdrawal for this return match.
Sabitzer's double in people's minds
“We know we are going to suffer in Dortmund,” Diego Simeone immediately said after the first leg, even saying he was “lucky” not to have conceded a draw. This return to Signal Iduna Park will be delicate for the Colchoneros, and the Madrilenians know it. What they also know is that Antoine Griezmann perfectly prepared for this trip by scoring a double on Saturday against Girona, allowing his team to come back to within four points of their opponent of the day and the La Liga podium.
Dortmund is therefore warned. But Edin Terzic's men are not left behind, as they remain on five wins in six Bundesliga matches. Between the two matches against Atlético, the Yellow and Blacks won on the Mönchengladbach field thanks to a double in seven minutes from Marcel Sabitzer. The Austrian, who arrived from Bayern last summer, could be one of those who will allow Borussia to turn the tide against the Colchoneros who have not reached the semi-finals of the competition since 2017.