The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Antoine Griezmann
Foxes keep hopes alive for second leg despite Griezmann’s spot-kick
scores from the spot to give Atletico Madrid a 1-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg win over Leicester. The penalty award was controversial, with the English champions claiming the foul was outside the box.
ATLETICO MADRID 1 LEICESTER CITY 0
Antoine Griezmann’s controversial first-half penalty handed Atletico Madrid a tight 1-0 win over gutsy Leicester in last night’s Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The France striker was fouled outside the box by Marc Albrighton but referee Jonas Erikssson pointed to the spot.
It was deja vu for Leicester after another dubious penalty at the Vicente Calderon helped knock them out of the Uefa Cup in 1997.
They will also have to overturn a deficit at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday without Robert Huth, who is suspended after collecting his third booking of the campaign.
But the Foxes, who failed to create a meaningful chance, will be encouraged they are in the tie and still have a chance of booking a stunning semi-final spot.
They defended well and were vigilant although Atletico’s one-paced secondhalf performance played into their hands.
Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare was disappointed by the referee’s decision to award a penalty but remains confident they can progress on home soil.
“I think 1-0, we would have taken that before the game,” he said. “We came to try and get the away goal but we have seen what a top team Atletico Madrid are.
“We have got a good record at the King Power and the tie is still alive.”
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid came from behind to beat 10-man Bayern Munich 2-1 at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern, who had thrashed Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate to take their place in the last eight, went in front after 26 minutes through a bullet header from Arturo Vidal.
The Chile midfielder, though, wasted a chance to double the German club’s advantage in first-half stoppage time when he blasted a penalty over the bar after what looked a poor hand ball decision against Dani Carvajal.
Real were level two minutes into the second half when Ronaldo swept in a cross from Carvajal.
Bayern had to play the final 30 minutes a man down after Javi Martinez picked up two quick bookings.
Ronaldo took his tally to 100 European goals when he stabbed the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute to leave Carlo Ancelotti’s men with it all to do in next week’s second leg at the Bernabeu.