Brave Foxes left raging at bad spot by ref
LEICESTER kept their Champions League dream alive but were left furious after going down to a disputed penalty.
Marc Albrighton’s foul on Antoine Griezmann was clearly outside the box only for Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson to award a penalty.
The Frenchman stepped up to beat Kasper Schmeichel from the spot in the 28th minute.
But bitterly upset Schmeichel said: “The penalty has ruined our game plan. It’s tough to take when it is so clear. We should have had something from this but we have to accept it.
“They might have scored from what should have been a free-kick but it’s easier to score from a penalty.”
The tie is delicately poised ahead of the second leg at the King Power Stadium after a battling second-half display from the Foxes. And midfielder Andy King vowed to give it everything next week. He said: “To come here and still be in the game was the objective. We can take them back to ours and hopefully turn over the deficit, like the last tie.
“We know we’re strong at home and I’m sure we can cause them problems.”
Leicester were also angry at Atletico boss Diego Simeone who repeatedly urged the ref to book Jamie Vardy.
The striker avoided a caution that would have ruled him out of the second leg but he had a quiet game and was subbed.
It says everything about the Foxes’ spirit that they simply refused to buckle even when Atletico were laying siege.
The decisive goal came in the 28th minute. Griezmann knocked the ball down the left wing and was way too quick for Albrighton who made a clumsy lunge. TV replays showed the challenge was outside the box but the referee gave a penalty.
Griezmann showed nerves of steel to step up and send Schmeichel the wrong way.