Werkself review #AtletiB04: ‘Not smart enough to close the game down’

Summary: Dominance in first-half unrewarded

The Werkself impressed from the start with lots of possession and accurate passing, Atletico waited for their chance to play on the break but failed to produce a single shot on goal in the first half. It was different for the Werkself who had an extra man from 25 minutes when Pablo Barrios shown a red card for a foul on Nordi Mukiele. In added time in the first half, Piero Hincapie scored with a header – from a Mukiele cross – to finally give Leverkusen a deserved lead (45+2'). The German double winners were on top of the start of the second 45 but the scores were levelled at 1-1 on 52 minutes after a brilliant run by Julian Alvarez including a cool finish. It was the first goal conceded by Bayer 04 with an extra man in the Champions League since 2000. The Spaniards now had the upper hand. Hincapie was sent off for a second yellow card offence with 15 minutes to play, Alvarez netted the winner for Atletico at 2-1 (90'). The match report is HERE.

Reaction: "Increasingly let Atletico back in the game"

We gave Atletico the feeling it could be a battle and that there was still something in it for them and we weren’t smart enough to close the game down" said Jonathan Tah after the final whistle: "We let ourselves be drawn into it. We have to learn to keep a cool head in games like that."

Xabi Alonso summed up the proceedings as follows: "We were very solid up to half-time. Then Atletico increasingly came back into the game and we were scarcely able to create any positive moments. The equaliser took the wind out of our sails and then they played the game the way they wanted to. Today's match was decided at an emotional level. I'm sure we can use this experience in the coming games."

What the papers say: "Extremely feisty, frenetic at times"

The kicker headline read: "Despite lead and an extra man: Leverkusen surrender at the Metropolitano." On the opening stages of the game: "From the start it was clear that Leverkusen wanted to dominate the game – and Bayer did that too." The assessment in the Bild-Zeitung is: "Atletico taught Bayer Leverkusen a lesson and won a wild encounter 2-1 in the end. The Werkself looked to have the clear advantage of the extra man after the deserved lead at half-time [...]. The hosts had something to say about that and they were completely on the case in the second half."

For Leverkusen, the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger most highly rates the performances of Nordi Mukiele and Exequiel Palacios, the Rheinische Post report talks about "a hot-blooded night" and an "extremely feisty, at times frenetic" atmosphere at the Metropolitano.

Personnel: A positive and a negative "first time"

The celebration after the famous "first time" for Piero Hincapie must have felt very special. How else could it be? It was the first Champions League goal for the 23-year-old Ecuadorian in his twelfth UCL appearance. But another less pleasing "first time" also happened to Hincapie on the night: Being shown two yellow cards was his first dismissal in the Champions League.

Talking about personnel: Bayer 04 fielded the same starting XI in successive UCL matches for only the second time. Before that it happened in 2001 with an away game at Barcelona (1-2) followed by a 2-1 home win against Fenerbahce. Victor Boniface was not in the starting line-up but he did return to the matchday squad for the first time since the start of November last year. Great to see you back, Boni!

Stats: More posession, more shots on goal

The Werkself remain without a win in Spain in the last six Champions League away games in succession (two draws, four defeats) with the last UCL win at a Spanish club back in December 2013 (1-0 at Real Sociedad). In addition, Leverkusen lost a Champions League away game after leading at half-time for the first time since 2015 and after that they went four games without defeat.

The match stats clearly favour the Black and Reds: 70% possession, 13 shots on goal to 5 and better pass completion (92% to 76%). Atletico were narrowly in front in terms of challenges won with 54%.

Outlook: Next away game at RB Leipzig

Bayer 04 now have another away game. The Werkself are at RB Leipzig on Bundesliga Matchday 19. The kick-off on Saturday, 25 January, is at 15.30 CET. That is followed by two home games against Sparta Prague to end the UCL league phase (tickets available) and TSG Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.