Leicester City - Atlético Madrid
Leicester City vs Atletico Madrid match report, goals: Champions League 2017
Atlético Madrid knocked out Leicester City at the King Power stadium in their Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday April 18th 2017Barcelona-Sporting CP live online
Leicester City 1-1 Atlético Madrid (agg.1-2): full-time analysis
Atlético make it through to their third Champions League final in four years but Leicester can hold their heads high after giving the Madrileños a good run for their money in this evening's Champions League quarter-final second leg in front of a fantastically enthusiatic and vocal home crowd. It might have been different had the Foxes managed to grab an early goal which was clearly their intention. Saúl's wonderful opener was a hammer blow and the had the hosts groggy for the remainder of the first half.
Leicester came out fired up for the second-half
Who knows what Shakepeare said to his players in the changing room at half-time? Whatever it was, Leicester came out like a team possessed for the second 45. The two substitutions made during the interval - Ulloa for Okazaki and Chilwell for Benalouane injected a fresh impetus for a side who just couldn't find a way to penetrate Atleti's granite-like rearguard. Within minutes o the restart, Chilwell had grazed Oblak's crossbar with a viscious volley which drew gasps from the stands. The 20-year-old England youth international found himself unmarked in an indentical position minutes later and while his half volley was on target, Savic scrambled back in time to block but diverted the ball straight to Vardy who thumped home from close range to make it 1-1 on the night.
Leicester still believed
Leicester were suddenly filled with hopes of a miracle and went looking for a second goal, leaving themselves exposed to Atlético's counter attacks - the two or three of which came to nothing. Simeone responded by taking off left-back Filipe Luis and moving Giménez into central defence to play five at the back. The guests were content to sit back and soak up wave upon wave of Leicester's attacks an wait for the home team to tire.
Atlético Madrid: three semi-finals in four years
Wes Morgan went off with an injured hamstring with 10 minutes to go and that somehow seemed to suck the last traces of life out of Leicester who faded after that. They made a courageous attempt to turn the tie around and have enjoyed a great denut campaign in the Champions League. Atlético have a few scores to settle in the competition and whoever they are drawn against on Friday for the semi-finals, they will be determined to make sure that they taste some glory in a competition which has eluded them too many times.
In the other quarter-final this evening Real Madrid went through against Bayern Munich, but needed extra-time to do so.
Leicester City 1-1 Atlético Madrid: second half
Min 69 | Another Leicester penalty appeal falls on defa ears. Ulloa's shot hits Lucas but Rocchi's not having any of it.
Min 47 | Mahrez's corner is cleared. Might be an idea to try playing one short, Atleti are clearing everything that is playing into the box.
Min 46 | Leicester have come flying out of the traps and have already won a corner.
Min 45 | Substitution: Ulloa and Chilwell are on for Okazaki and Benalouane
Min 45 | Leicester get us back underway
It was Atlético who started dominating from kick-off and Simeone's side go in at the break looking in control with Leicester now requiring three goals in the next 45 minutes. The Foxes were hit just as they had the wind in their sails but it was a fine cross from Filipe and an even better finish from Saúl who placed a precision, downward header past the keeper and inside the post. It shook Leicester, who took a while to recover. They haven't been having a lot of success in breaking down Atleti and will need to find a way to penetrate the visitors defence - little dinked balls over the top of Juanfran and Savic worked for a while before the goal but all of their set-piece moves have come to nothing.
There was a dubious appeal for a penalty late on when Schmeichel committed himself too early and got himself in a tangle with Carrasco but the Belgian seemed to be looking for contact and didn't fool the ref as he went down.
20:00 | So Foxes' skipper Wes Morgan passed a late fitness test and enters the starting XI. No real suprises on either of the two managers' line-ups. Atleti, as expected, going 4-4-2 as they hope to keep the fight contained in the centre of the park with Giménez in the sweeper, or destroyer role just in front of the back four to keep Vardy and Mahrez in check. Fernando Torres starts on the bench but we will probably see him come on at some point late on.
19:50 | The teams are in:
Leicester vs Atlético confirmed line-ups
Leicester XI
Schmeichel, Simpson, Benalouane, Morgan, Fuchs, Mahrez, Ndidi, Drinkwater, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy.
Subs: Zieler, Chilwell, Musa, King, Amartey, Gray, Ulloa.
Atlético XI
Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godín, Filipe; Saúl, Gabi, Giménez, Koke; Carrasco and Griezmann.
Subs: Moyà, Lucas, Thomas. Nico Gaitán, Correa, Gameiro and Fernando Torres
19:00 | AS spoke to the great Peter Schmeichel ahead of the game: "I think we are going to see a very open game. Atlético have a small advantage but those who were at the King Power for the Sevilla game will tell you what this stadium can do - anything can happen.
18:50 | Diego Godín spoke about Atlético's woeful penalty record: "It's something which can happen to any team but we'll get through it. The penalties issue is something we have talked about among ourselves and with the coach - you can send the ball wide or the keeper can pull off an amazing save, there's nothing you can do about it it's part of football".
18:20 | Atlético and Leicester have met twice before in European competition - in 1961 in the now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup, drawing 1-1 at the old Filbert Street ground and Atleti winning the return 2-0 at the Metropolitano.Between the sticks for Leicester in both legs was the great Gordon Banks and a young Frank McLintock in the back four.
17:45 | Fancy an outside "flutter" on the game at the King Power? Atleti defender Savic to be the first scorer pays out at 41/1.
16:35 | Atleti have covered most ground of all the sides left in the UCL with a combined 1.044 km covered by "Los Colchoneros". Leicester have covered a combined 962km.
16:00 | A nippy 12C come kick-off this evening but a 1%C of rain according to the weather boffins!
15:55 | Monaco have the advantage in tomorrow's game in France but here's five reasons to suggest that BVB will be in Friday's draw.
15:20 | Can Leicester upset the odds again and qualify for the Champions League semi-final?
15:10 | Griezmann's future will be hotly debated over the Summer months but an improved contract points to a stay with Atleti
14:55 | A 1-0 home win is the only scoreline at the King Power that would see the game go to penalty kicks. Atleti to win on spot kicks ?
14:30 | Leicester defender Fuchs claims the English side have Griezmann under control!
14:00 | Tiago confesses his eternal love to the Rojiblanco cause
12:30| Stark revelations from Atleti's Saul
Latest news live: Leicester vs Atlético
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Leicester City v Atlético Madrid in the Champions League quarter final return leg. The game is taking place at the King Power stadium in Leicester, with kick-off at 20:45 hours (CEST).
Leicester City vs Atlético Madrid: match preview
Recently-appointed Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare insisted that his side are not the favourites to make the semi-finals, despite having a home advantage and a slender, one-goal deficit to overturn. “We’re in the tie, it’s 1-0, we need to create more, we’ve got to get a goal back”, said the coach on the eve of the game. The Foxes were in the strangely familiar situation in the previous round, also against Spanish opposition, managing to see off Sevilla at the King Power without any problems. Atlético feel they are owed something in this competition after having been cruelly denied from lifting the trophy three times – twice in extra-time and once in the shoot-out in the three finals they've contested. In the red and white half of Madrid, there is a real feeling of confidence – not exactly an inherent trait among fans who have been known for looking on the gloomy side. Under Simeone, the Rojiblancos feel that this could be their year – a sentiment which was underlined when they avoided the big guns for once in the quarter final draw. Not that they will in any way underestimate Shakespeare’s Leicester. El Cholo will have scrutinized how they picked Sevilla apart and make sure his defence are rock solid. The upbeat mood was enhanced by a cavalier performance against Osasuna at the weekend; the only drawback were the two missed penalties by Carrasco and Thomas – Atleti have missed their last six spot-kicks and will be anxious to resolve this tie within 120 minutes at the most – without the need for a shoot-out…
Leicester City
Shakespeare gave an update on captain Wes Morgan’s situation in his press briefing. The centre-back has been struggling to shake of a back problem which he picked up in the previous round against Sevilla and will undergo a late fitness test. “The final decision will be made tomorrow. I need to see if there is no reaction. The type of injury he has had – a back and nerve injury, you want to make sure there’s no reaction”, the coach said. One player who won’t be taking to the pitch on Tuesday night is centre-back Robert Huth, the German is suspended after picking up a booking at the Calderón but Andy King and Yohan Benalouane have travelled with the squad despite being on the end of knocks at the weekend. Wilfred Ndidi, Islam Sliman and Jamie Vardy are all one booking away from missing the semis, should the Foxes go through...
Man to watch: Riyad Mahrez. The Algerian has everything to be able to divert the course of a game all on his own. Intelligent, skillful, quick and daring, the 26-year-old has forged a brilliant understanding with Jamie Vardy and is the team’s top scorer in the tournament with four goals. If he isn’t putting the ball away himself, he’s serving it up on a plate for one of his team mates.
Atlético Madrid
Diego Simeone might say otherwise, but it looks like Atlético have been through their bad patch this season and they are gathering momentum for the final stretch. His players are brimming with confidence and it shows out on the pitch. The Argentinean has taken the whole squad to Leicester and wants everyone, bar injury-hit pair Augusto Fernández and Sime Vrslajko, to be present for this momentous occasion – even if it’s just to lend emotional support. The casualty room has been emptying out and there was an extra boost on Monday as deputy keeper Miguel Ángel Moyà and striker Kevin Gameiro were signed off the medical list and included in the squad. Gameiro has struggled to adapt signing joining Atleti but he’s gradually been getting back into his stride in recent weeks; he also offers different characteristics to Griezmann, Correa and Torres. Simeone will be able to field his strongest XI at the King Power – his team go into this having suffered just one defeat in LaLiga since the New Year started, against Barcelona.
Man to watch: Carrasco. Atlético are privileged to have a number of players to watch and one of them is the 23-year-old Belgian who is hitting peak form. He was superb against Osasuna at the weekend, proving a real handful for the Basque side and could have, and should have, claimed a hat trick. His late penalty, although struck well, was brilliantly clawed off the line by Sirigu.
Leicester City vs Atlético Madrid: possible line-ups
Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Banalouane, Fuchs; Mahrez, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Albrighton, Okazaki, Vardy.
Coach: Craig Shakespeare
Atlético: Oblak; Juanfran, Giménez, Godin, Filipe Luis; Carrasco, Koke, Gabi, Saúl, Torres, Griezmann.
Coach: Diego Simeone
Leicester City vs Atlético Madrid: betting odds
The bookmakers have Atlético as the favourites to advance to the semi-finals with Leicester at 4/1. A 2-2 draw on the whistle might be worth a punt, with odds at 19/1 – and similarly, a 2-0 full-time score with the Foxes into the semis for the first time pays 17/1. You could even throw caution to the wind and stick a fiver on recently-returned misfit Alessio Cerci to bag a hat trick currently at not-to-be-sniffed at 67/1. Stranger things have happened.
Bet on Leicester City v Atlético in the Champions League now