Atleti beat Ronaldo – and VAR
Atletico Madrid 2 Juventus 0
TWO late goals edged Juventus towards a Champions League exit as Atletico put one over their nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo.
Jose Maria Gimenez fired Atleti ahead and Diego Godin wrapped up victory on a night of VAR farce and drama in Madrid.
Gimenez pounced on a loose ball six yards out 12 minutes from time and Godin fired a second, deflected in off Ronaldo five minutes later.
Ronaldo received a hot reaction from Real Madrid’s arch-rivals on his return to the capital, not least because of the 22 times he had scored against them.
And he almost added to that total after nine minutes when he lined up one of his trademark freekicks only to see his stinging shot fisted over the bar by Jan Oblak.
Midway through the first half Diego Costa was awarded a penalty – only for German referee Felix Zwayer to reverse his decision on VAR review.
Mattia De Sciglio’s slight tap on Costa’s heel saw the Brazilian throw himself into the box, but it was eventually ruled a free-kick, from which Antoine Griezmann pulled a smart save out of Wojciech Szczesny.
Atleti came out firing in the second half and Costa should have put them ahead when clear through, only to fire inches wide.
Alvaro Morata thought he had put his Chelsea misery behind him when he headed home 19 minutes from time, but Zwayer somehow or other spotted a foul on Giorgio Chiellini – through VAR – before the late drama turned the tide Atleti’s way.