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Champions League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 12, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
LL

1-0

Griezmann (28' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Leicester City - as it happened

:Headline: Live Commentary: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Leicester City - as it happened: ID:295886: from db_amp
Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Atletico Madrid's 1-0 victory over Leicester City in the Champions League.

Atletico Madrid have registered a 1-0 victory over Leicester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in Spain.

Leicester put in a spirited effort but they were undone by a controversial decision by the referee, who awarded a penalty against Marc Albrighton despite the foul taking place outside of the box.

Antoine Griezmann made no mistake from 12 yards, but Leicester will take the positives of returning to the King Power Stadium with a chance of reaching the last four.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Vicente Calderon.

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final between Atletico Madrid and Leicester City.
Ahead of the draw for the quarter-finals, the majority of Leicester City fans would have hoped for a glamour tie with either Real Madrid or Barcelona, but they arguably got the next best thing in drawing Atletico Madrid. Last season's runners-up have not enjoyed the best of campaigns on the domestic front but they remain a force in Europe and the Foxes find themselves up against a team will have hopes of reaching a second successive final.
Tonight's contest also represents the first time in which Craig Shakespeare has managed the team away from English soil. He was in charge for the dramatic second leg between Leicester and Sevilla at the King Power Stadium, but he is yet to have to set up a team to get a result on the continent. It would be easy for him to instruct his players to go out and play their game, but I'm not sure it works like that when you reach this stage of the tournament.
Due to yesterday's bomb attack on the Borussia Dortmund coach, they are being forced to play the first leg of their tie with AS Monaco right now and it isn't going to plan for the German side. They currently trail 2-0 and it goes without saying that they need to reduce the deficit before the full-time whistle. Follow the remainder of the action by clicking here.
Right then, team news! Shakespeare has made five changes to his Leicester starting lineup...
ATLETICO MADRID XI: Oblak, Juanfran, Godin, Savic, Filipe Luis, Koke, Gabi, Saul, Carrasco, Griezmann, Torres
ATLETICO MADRID SUBSTITUTES: Moreira, Correa, Cerci, Hernandez, Thomas, Gaitan, Gimenez
LEICESTER CITY XI: Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane, Huth, Fuchs, Mahrez, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Albrighton, Vardy, Okazaki
LEICESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Zieler, Chilwell, King, Amartey, Slimani, Gray, Ulloa
Let's start with Atletico. It's a pretty formidable looking side, isn't it? Simeone includes the majority of his big hitters with Antonio Griezmann working in close proximity of Fernando Torres in attack. Yannick Carrasco also plays in the final third for the Spaniards, who also include Filipe Luis and Stefan Savic, both of whom have had spells in England with Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.
As already noted, Shakespeare has made five alterations to the team which lost out at Everton on Sunday. Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs return in defence, while Wilfred Ndidi has shaken off a groin injury to take his place in midfield. Riyad Mahrez is restored on the flank while Shinji Okazaki gets the nod over Islam Slimani. All things considered, there are no surprises from Shakespeare.
HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's match represents the fifth time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive fixture - I bet that has surprised you! The clubs have squared off in both the Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Cup, in 1961 and 1997 respectively. While Leicester claimed a draw in the first ever contest between the sides, they have suffered defeat in the other three. Their two visits to Spain have ended in 2-0 and 2-1 setbacks respectively.
There have been a number of reports suggesting that some of the Leicester supporters have been involved in clashes with the police earlier today, just hours after eight people were arrested last night. Some of the photos don't a paint a pretty picture as far as the Foxes are concerned, but it should also be noted that there have been claims of unprovoked responses from the police. Either way, let's hope no trouble flares up inside the Vicente Calderon.
Back to matters on the pitch and let's discuss what Leicester need to do to get a result in Madrid? Some would say a similar performance to the one in Seville in February but on that occasion, the Premier League side rode their luck to come away with a 2-1 defeat. The obvious attention will be on the front three but Atletico's three centre midfielders must be stopped from being able to have it their own way. Okazaki is going to have an important job to do when the home side have the ball, while Ndidi is arguably Leicester's key man tonight and needs to stamp his authority on the game. Their best hope of a goal may lie with Mahrez or Albrighton because it could progress into a game where Vardy remains isolated. His job will be to try to out-think Godin.
It has been suggested that this Atletico side doesn't play with the same quality of recent years but they are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions. They also head into this encounter having claimed a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. In the league this season, Atletico have 11 wins and two draws from 15 outings at their home ground.
Before we get onto our prediction, let's talk about Leicester's recent form. It remains to be seen whether conceding four goals at Everton will have much effect on the team but before that, they had been superb in registering six wins in a row. Five of those games came at home, while the other was at a struggling West Ham United, but Leicester should only be able to take confidence from registering six victories in succession. They just have to be careful not to get ahead of themselves. Atletico are a step up to anything they have faced during that sequence of results and they have to treat it as though they will have to perform to their absolute maximum to come away with anything tonight.
PREDICTION! Like with the Sevilla match, we are of the opinion where a narrow defeat with an away goal must be considered a success for the East Midlands outfit. They are used to being without the ball, but it is going to be that little bit harder to try to exploit any weaknesses in the Atletico side when they do regain possession. That said, we cannot see Atletico scoring less than three tonight and we are going to go for a 3-1 for the home team.
Here come the two teams. What a spectacle this is! It still feels like a dream-like scenario for Leicester, but they have to produce the goods tonight to ensure that it doesn't become a nightmare.
Leicester get us back underway.
We are only a few minutes but it has been an electric start. Leicester have already had to made several blocks to prevent shots going on Schmeichel's goal but on the break, Vardy got clear before firing across goal from an acute angle.
CHANCE! The first real chance falls to Torres after he is played in by Griezmann but he doesn't get everything behind his shot and Schmeichel makes the save.
WOODWORK! Less than a minute later, Atletico strike the post! Koke was able to get an effort away from distance but it hit the woodwork, with the ball going away from goal. I'm not sure that Schmeichel was saving that.
It really is all Atletico. They have started this match like a train and Leicester are struggling to contain them in the final third. Griezmann is involved in everything.
CHANCE! Atletico really should be ahead by now. A cross from Filipe Luis is headed into the path of Carrasco by Huth, but the attacker miscues his volley from no more than eight yards and it goes wide.
SHOT! Atletico look so sharp on the ball. Leicester are chasing shadows until the ball arrives in their own final third. Griezmann is the latest player to get a shot away, but his attempt from 30 yards goes just over.
SHOT! Another shot which goes close for Atletico. Saul lets fly from 30 yards but like with Griezmann's strike, it goes just over. Leicester are struggling to get Vardy into the game. I'm not sure how much longer they can go on like this.
Finally, a spell of possession for Leicester. They don't do anything with it but it was a chance to have a breather. Drinkwater and Ndidi are having to cover so much ground in the centre of the park.
Much better from Leicester who get a couple of teasing crosses into the penalty area. There's nothing wrong with the deliveries, the issue comes from that Leicester possess no height in attack.
CHANGE! Should Okazaki score here? Fuchs produces a fine cross from the left which is intended for Vardy but after it misses the striker, it almost arrives at the feet of the Japanese attacker in the six-yard box.
PENALTY TO ATLETICO MADRID!
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Leicester City (Griezmann)
Disaster for Leicester. Griezmann breaks from his own half and manages to run into the penalty area, but he is fouled by Albrighton just outside the box. However, the referee says it was inside and awards Atletico a penalty. Griezmann makes no mistake in sending Schmeichel the wrong way. It's harsh on the Foxes.
First things first, Leicester need to get to half time without conceding a second. As you would expect, Atletico are throwing men forward even more now that they have the cushion of a goal.
Vardy has just mistimed a challenge on a defender. It's important because he is a yellow card away from being banned from the second leg. I'm surprised the referee hasn't gone back to book him. Moments later, Koke fired just wide from 30 yards.
SHOT! It's extremely ambitious from Albrighton but you can't blame him for taking a shot from distance. It goes a few yards wide but it's at least an effort on goal.
Atletico are deliberately trying to get Vardy booked. It's really annoying to see. Savic has just dived to win a free kick and referee brought it. Simeone is trying to get Vardy booked too.
HALF TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Leicester City
After no added-on time, the half-time whistle goes at the Vicente Calderon and Atletico hold a 1-0 lead thanks to that controversial penalty from Griezmann. The replays back up Leicester's appeals that it was outside the box, but there's little they can do about it now. At worst, they need to get to full time with this result intact. A heavier defeat and they face an uphill task in the second leg.
Leicester have made a change at the break. Okazaki has been replaced by Andy King.
Atletico get us back underway.
It's been a solid start to the second half from Leicester. Atletico have had one corner but it was well defended by Huth.
BOOKING! The referee books a second Leicester player and it's another deserved booking. Benalouane lunged in recklessly on Torres and he is probably a little fortunate that it is just a caution.
Atletico are starting to get on top now. It's just like the first half but with less opportunities for the home side. What does Shakespeare have up his sleeve in regards to substitutions?
SHOT! This is as close as Leicester have gone all night. A miscued volley from Simpson almost leads to Huth getting a shot on target but it's blocked. Mahrez then curled over from just over 20 yards out.
BOOKING! Huth is booked after being caught out by Griezmann and that's Huth out of the second leg.
Mahrez finds some space on the left-hand side but after cutting inside into the penalty area, he effectively dived to try to win a spot kick. Poor for the playmaker.
This is so poor from the official behind the goal. Vardy looks to have won a corner but the official wrongly decides he had the last touch. It was blatant. Angel Correa has been introduced for Carrasco.
There's not a lot happening right now but Atletico are in control of the general play. They are taking their time before pushing forward for a second. Leicester are second best, but still in it. How long until we see Islam Slimani?
Atletico have had the ball for pretty much all of the last few minutes. They eventually created a corner but a foul was committed on Huth. Still no sign of a change or goal from Leicester.
SUBSTITUTION! Atletico decide to make a change with Thomas being introduced for Torres. Slimani is ready too.
SUBSTITUTION! On comes Slimani, with Vardy going off. It's a good decision from Shakespeare, based on the fact that Vardy could get booked ahead of the second leg and that he hasn't seen much of the ball.
As we enter the final 10 minutes, Leicester would certainly jump at the 1-0 scoreline but is it really enough? They aren't showing much ambition in regards to getting an equaliser but you can hardly blame them.
A neat ball over the top of the Leicester defence causes all kinds of problems and it's down to Benalouane to prevent Griezmann tapping in from close range. Things are getting a bit nervy now.
Just the three minutes to go at Vicente Calderon. I have written off Leicester's chances of getting on the scoresheet but it is important they don't concede a second. The tie potentially rides on it.
Correa does brilliantly to turn away from two Leicester defenders but his cross into the six-yard box avoids everyone and Leicester survive. For now.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
FULL TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Leicester City
The full-time whistle goes at the Vicente Calderon and Atletico settle for a 1-0 win over a spirited Leicester side. They were harshly done by when the penalty was awarded, but their hosts deserve their slender lead.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you for the second leg. Can Leicester pull off yet another unthinkable result? Goodbye for now.

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