CHAMPIONS LGE: Setback for Ronaldo as Atletico defenders strike down Juve
MADRID: Atletico Madrid remain on track to reach out for a first Champions League Cup in their own Estadio Metropolitano after beating Juventus 2-0 in their second round first leg.
In the night’s other tie 10-men Manchester City hit back from 2-1 down to beat Schalke 3-2 in Gelsenkirchen.
Atletico Madrid claimed victory over Juventus thanks to two goals from their centre-backs at set-pieces.
Diego Simeone’s side were denied a penalty and an Alvaro Morata goal by the video assistant referee before they opened the scoring.
Jose Maria Gimenez pounced from eight yards after Morata’s header was blocked by Mario Mandzukic. Then Diego Godin netted a half-volley, via a deflection off Cristiano Ronaldo.
Striker Costa and midfielder Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid and Juve left-back Alex Sandro will all miss the second leg on Tuesday, 12 March after picking up their third bookings of the tournament.
Ronaldo – who is aiming to win a sixth Champions League and a fourth in a row – had Juve’s best chance as his powerful 35-yard free-kick was tipped over by Jan Oblak.
Sterling strike
Raheem Sterling chased down a long clearance from goalkeeper Ederson to score a last-minute winner as Manchester City staged a brilliant late comeback to beat Schalke.
The Premier League champions went in front on 18 minutes through Sergio Aguero before the game swung in Schalke’s favour after a contentious VAR decision and two Nabil Bentaleb penalties.
The first spot-kicks came after the intervention of the VAR, who penalised City defender Nicolas Otamendi for handball when the ball struck his arm as he moved it behind his back.
The second was given for a foul by Fernandinho on Salif Sane, with the referee only briefly consulting the VAR.
Otamendi, booked for the handball, was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Guido Burgstaller in the second half and will thus sit out the second leg, as will Fernandinho.
City manager Pep Guardiola sent on Leroy Sane and the Germany international curled home a free-kick from 30 yards out to level matters before Sterling struck the winner.
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