Champions League: Atlético Madrid beats Leipzig at the last minute

In the opposite stand of the Estadio Metropolitano in the Spanish capital, there is an optimist who expresses his confidence in capital letters. “ESTE AÑO, SÍ” was written on a banner in large white letters on a red background. “This year, something will happen,” it meant, or more precisely: with the first Champions League triumph in the club’s history.

The road to the final in Munich is still long in every respect, as it will not take place until the end of May 2025. On Thursday, however, Atlético collected its first points in the current competition with a 2-1 win against RB Leipzig that was well deserved overall but only achieved in the last minute. It was a happy ending for Atlético after Benjamin Sesko had put Leipzig ahead in the fourth minute. Antoine Griezmann equalized, and center-back José María Giménez turned the game around with a header in the 90th minute.

“We could have taken at least one point from Madrid,” complained Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner after the game on DAZN: “In the end, it’s just the little things that decide. Atlético were one goal better.”

The early 1-0 gives Leipzig some security

“Something is coming our way,” said RB coach Marco Rose on the evening before the match. He was proved right even before kick-off: A storm hit Madrid, which led to the postponement of Champions League matches in other European cities. Thousands of spectators had trouble getting to the stadium on time, and subway services were temporarily interrupted. What those who made it to the Metropolitano saw was that the drainage of the pitch withstood the stress test. And that Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko gave Leipzig an ideal start.

Sesko, 21, drove the ball across the pitch at breathtaking speed from his own half, shook off his pursuers Kiko and Reinildo – and laid the ball off to Lois Openda. The Belgian shot and forced Atlético’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak to make a formidable save. The ball flew from the Slovenian’s hand back to Sesko – and he was able to make full use of the advantages of his height (1.95 meters) and head it in to take the lead.

The 1-0 gave Leipzig the same confidence that Atlético was beginning to become confused. It continued until Antoine Griezmann retreated to defensive midfield, where he found space to take control of the game and thereby expanded Ángel Correa’s area of ​​activity. The Argentinian, who is about to celebrate his tenth anniversary with the club, caused a lot of trouble between the lines. And he was one of the driving forces that led to Atlético forcing Leipzig so far into the defensive that an equalizer became a matter of time.

Frenchman Antoine Griezmann scores the equalizer with a volley

In the 15th minute, Leipzig captain Willi Orban thwarted a triple chance, in the 25th minute, the outstanding central defender Castello Lukeba threw himself in the nick of time to stop a shot from Correa, after which Leipzig allied themselves with the post. After a short corner, Correa directed the ball to the left post, from where it landed in the arms of RB goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi (26th). The 1:1 did come – through Antoine Griezmann. Marcos Llorente had stolen away behind national defender David Raum and hit a precise cross to the penalty spot, where the Frenchman beat RB keeper Gulacsi with a bouncing volley. Raum was really served a few minutes later, however, when he felt let down by Xavi Simons and Arthur Vermeeren. Raum protested vehemently.

After that, the quality of the performances of both teams suffered due to a series of substitutions and various, sometimes overly harsh fouls. This had already become apparent towards the end of the first half, when Lukeba and Correa were both shown yellow cards for pompous fouls. Both offensive lines had difficulty finding clear paths into the opponent’s penalty area. It was not until the 77th minute that there was a collective cry of relief from the now well-filled stands when Yussuf Poulsen, who had come on for Sesko, narrowly missed the goal with a header after a cross from Raum.

Atlético also showed their teeth with headers, also by a Scandinavian substitute, more precisely by substitute Alexander Sörloth. But then Uruguayan José María Giménez struck. He won an aerial duel against Austrian Nicolas Seiwald after a cross from Griezmann – and scored from close range to make it 2-1, a bitter goal for Leipzig.