Atlético are in control of the tie again following the first leg in Germany
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have it all to do to turn the tables on Club Atlético de Madrid in the UEFA Champions League round of 16; two seasons ago at this stage, the Spanish side came out on top and look well placed for a repeat performance this time round.
Atlético are in control of the tie again following the first leg in Germany when goals from Saúl Ñiguez, Antoine Griezmann, Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres secured a 4-2 victory; Karim Bellarabi and a Stefan Savi? own goal gave Leverkusen a glimmer of hope for the return.
Only twice in UEFA Champions League history has a side overturned a home first-leg defeat to win the tie: AFC Ajax against Panathinaikos FC in the 1995/96 semi-finals (0-1 home, 3-0 away) and FC Internazionale Milano against FC Bayern München in the 2010/11 round of 16 (0-1 home, 3-2 away).
Previous Meetings
In the 2014/15 first leg, Hakan Çalhano?lu scored just before the hour to give Leverkusen a 1-0 home victory; Tiago was sent off for the visitors.
Atlético drew level on aggregate in the return through Mario Suárez and that took it to penalties, the hosts going through 3-2. Hakan Çalhano?lu, Ömer Toprak and Stefan Kiessling missed for the visitors, Koke failing for Atlético; Fernando Torres settled it by converting the home side’s fifth kick.
Jupp Heynckes’ Leverkusen ended up top of that UEFA Europa League group while the elimination of Quique Sánchez Flores’ Atlético, then holders, was confirmed with the matchday six draw at Leverkusen.
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