Atletico Madrid beat Leicester thanks to controversial penalty

Leicester City have suffered a 1-0 defeat away at Atletico Madrid thanks to a controversial penalty from Antoine Griezmann.

The Premier League side battled gamely in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie at the Vicente Calderon, but they were denied a positive scoreline after Griezmann netted from 12 yards after Marc Albrighton was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the box, with replays suggesting that it took place just outside.

The referee’s error was harsh on Leicester but they will take belief from being able to restrict last season’s runners-up to just the one goal at a ground where they are so formidable.

Leicester were aware that they could not afford a slow start against the Spanish giants, but it was one-way traffic during the opening stages as the home side threatened an early goal.

Fernando Torres should have done better after latching onto a pass from Griezmann, before Koke rattled the post from 25 yards out with Kasper Schmeichel beaten.

Yannick Carrasco also miscued a volley at the back post after a poor header from Robert Huth, while Griezmann and Saul Niguez both fired over the crossbar from around 30 yards out.

Albrighton cynically fouled Griezmann as he entered the penalty area but despite the offence taking place outside of the box, the referee deemed that it was inside, much to the frustration of the Leicester midfielder.

Schmeichel had saved penalties in both legs of the last-16 tie with Sevilla but on this occasion, Griezmann sent him the wrong way for his 24th goal of the season.