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Late goals from Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin earned Atl\u00e9tico Madrid a 2-0 victory against Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.<\/p>\nLate goals from Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin earned Atl\u00e9tico Madrid a 2-0 victory against Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.<\/p>\n
The Spanish club will defend a healthy advantage in Turin next month after Uruguay defenders Gimenez and Godin both struck in the space of five minutes deep into the second half at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo’s blistering free-kick forced Atl\u00e9tico goalkeeper Jan Oblak into a brilliant early save as both sides showed their attacking intentions.<\/p>\n
Juve threatened again through another long-range effort from Ronaldo and Leonardo Bonucci’s header, while at the other end Thomas’s thumping drive was turned away at full-stretch by Wojciech Szczesny.<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico striker Diego Costa, back in the starting line-up for the first time in nearly two months after foot surgery, felt he had won his side a 27th-minute penalty when he went tumbling under Mattia De Sciglio’s challenge.<\/p>\n
Referee Zwayer initially pointed to the spot, but reversed his decision after consulting VAR and awarded a free-kick just outside the box.<\/p>\n
Antoine Griezmann’s resulting set-piece was goal-bound until punched clear by Szczesny and it was Juve who went on to dominate the closing stages of a stop-start first half.<\/p>\n
Costa spurned a gilt-edged chance to break the deadlock for Atl\u00e9tico five minutes into the second period, pulling his shot wide from inside the area after being played in by Griezmann.<\/p>\n
Griezmann then raced on to Koke’s through ball and forced another fabulous save from Szczesny, who pushed the France international’s rasping shot onto the crossbar.<\/p>\n
Costa, unavailable for the second leg following a first-half booking, was replaced by former Juve striker Morata in the 58th minute.<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico boss Diego Simeone sent on forwards Thomas Lemar and Angel Correa for Thomas and Koke shortly afterwards as he chased the breakthrough goal.<\/p>\n
Morata, on loan from Chelsea, thought he had delivered when he headed home Filipe Luis’s cross in the 70th minute.<\/p>\n
But match official Zwayer consulted with VAR again and ruled Morata had fouled Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini with his arm and his decision to award the goal was reversed.<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico refused to falter, though, and took the lead their second-half display deserved in the 79th minute.<\/p>\n
Lemar’s corner fell into a crowded area and when Mario Mandzukic’s attempted clearance hit the prone Bonucci, Gimenez smashed the ball into the bottom corner.<\/p>\n
Atl\u00e9tico pounced again to stun Juve with a crucial second goal four minutes later after another botched clearance by Mandzukic, whose hooked attempt fell to Godin and he buried his shot from the edge of the six-yard box.<\/p>\n