Madrid, Feb 24 (BUS): Atletico Madrid got almost everything they wanted against Manchester United in the Champions League on Wednesday, with the exception of a win.
Atletico kept old rival Cristiano Ronaldo in check and got a stellar performance from his Portugal teammate Joao Felix, but a defensive lapse near the end meant Diego Simeone’s side had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Round of 16, the AP reports.
Felix – who was touted as the next Ronaldo – was the most dangerous striker and put the hosts ahead with a header in seven minutes of the match, but substitute Anthony Ilanga leveled in the 80th minute shortly after coming off the bench one of the few times. Atletico’s defense collapsed.
“I think it was my first touch,” said Ilanga, who became United’s youngest goalscorer in the knockout rounds at 19 years and 302 days old. “I dreamed of moments like these, scoring in the Champions League against a big team like Atletico Madrid.”
Atletico were in control for most of the match at the Wanda Metropolitano and hit the crossbar twice, including a shot in the 86th minute by Antoine Griezmann.
“They took advantage of a mistake in a very good match for us,” Simeone said. “We did everything right in almost the whole match. We couldn’t win but I am happy with the way we played and it is wide open for the second match.”
The return leg will be held on March 15 in England.
In the other round of 16 match on Wednesday, Benfica and Ajax tied 2-2 in Portugal.
“After the performance in the first half, things could have improved,” United coach Ralf Rangnick said. “What we played in the first half – I still can’t believe it. We played without conviction and the necessary aggression on the ball.”
Ronaldo, who several times ended Atletico’s Champions League title hopes while with Crosstown rivals Real Madrid, struggled throughout the match and was visibly frustrated. He was isolated up front, booed by Atlético fans almost every time he touched the ball in the Metropolitano.
Felix was more dangerous for Atlético, constantly threatening with his fast turns and powerful runs.
The 21-year-old striker opened the scoring with a powerful header from a fine cross by Renan Lodi. The ball flew off the post before entering Felix becoming the first Portuguese player to score a Champions League goal against United since Ronaldo netted Juventus against the English side in November 2018.
It was Felix’s seventh goal in the Champions League in 20 matches in the competition, and the first since 2020.
With the 37-year-old Ronaldo’s defense in good shape and unable to communicate with his teammates, United looked undefeated until Ilanga broke the freedom to score from inside the area after a nice through ball from playmaker Bruno Fernandes, the competition’s captain. Seven.
Ilanga had entered the match five minutes earlier and took advantage of the rare space the Atletico defense had given up, scoring United’s 500th goal in the tournament formerly known as the European Cup.
“We are a little disappointed, we did not deserve a draw,” Atletico defender Jose Maria Jimenez said. “We did everything we had to do to win. We defended well and created chances in attack. They scored a cross and we didn’t deserve it.”
Atlético finished in the position with a total of 13 attempts but only one on goal, while United scored two attempts on goal out of nine in total. Only Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak managed to save the match.
Griezmann, who started off the bench with Luis Suarez, had a chance to put Atletico ahead again near the end but his shot hit the crossbar. Atlético also had to save with woodwork just before the break when a header from close range from Sime Vrsaljko to the crossbar bounced off United defender Victor Lindelof.
Ronaldo, who has scored in all five of his group stage matches, was visibly disappointed with his team’s struggles and also complained to the referees as he entered the changing rooms in the first half. His best chance to score came from a free kick in the 79th minute passed high.
He has only one goal in his last nine matches in all competitions in one of his youngest stints since becoming a scoring machine in the latter part of his first stint with United from 2003-2009.
Ronaldo helped end Atletico’s hopes of winning the Champions League five different times while playing for Real Madrid and Juventus. He scored three goals for Real Madrid in 2017 and Juventus in 2019, and converted the decisive penalty shootout in the finals between city rivals in 2014 and 2016.
He had 25 goals in 35 matches during his career against Atlético, the most against any opponent other than Sevilla.
It was the first meeting between the two teams since the second round of the UEFA Cup in 1991-92, when Atlético won 4-1 on aggregate.