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Coach Diego Simeone praised Atletico Madrid’s performance in their 2-1 Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund, but lamented his side’s inability to take the chances which could have given them a greater advantage in the quarterfinal tie.
Atletico dominated much of the first leg at the Metropolitano on Wednesday, with Rodrigo de Paul putting them ahead in the fourth minute and Samuel Lino making it 2-0 after half an hour.
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Both Antoine Griezmann and Lino had opportunities to extend their lead, before Dortmund pulled a late goal back through substitute Sebastian Haller and hit the woodwork twice, to give them hope going into next Tuesday’s return leg in Germany.
“Every tie in this round has been very even: [Real Madrid v Manchester] City, [Arsenal v] Bayern, [Paris Saint-Germain v] Barca. And ours too,” Simeone told Movistar. “We saw it in the game between Manchester City and Real Madrid above all, they’re among the best teams in the last eight. They’re amazing, every time they get close to the goal, they score, and that makes the difference.
“We had 60 or 70 very good minutes, and it’s normal to have some moments where the opponent can do something. They did that, and they could have got the draw.”
Simeone defended out-of-form forward Álvaro Morata, who has only scored one goal since January after an exceptional first half of the season.
“There are things that you can’t explain, which are natural,” Simeone said in his post-match news conference. “Alvaro had six impressive months from July to January. Now he’s in a more difficult moment, he isn’t finding the goal, but he’s working hard and through that work, the goals will come.”
Morata’s strike partner Griezmann was treated with an ice pack on his right ankle after the game, but said he expected to be fit for Atletico’s LaLiga clash with Girona on Saturday.
“We won, and that’s the important thing,” Griezmann told Movistar. “It doesn’t matter what happened at the end [of the game], it’s a shame we conceded a goal, but it’s very important to win in a Champions League quarterfinal.
“I’m being treated now and I’ll rest well. We have the best physios in Europe to help me be at my best for Saturday.”
If Atletico eliminate Dortmund, they’ll face the winners of the tie between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, which the LaLiga side lead 3-2 after the first leg, in the semifinals, raising the prospect of Griezmann going up against his former club.
“That would mean a lot for LaLiga and Spanish football,” Griezmann said, “But the most important thing is us getting to the semis. It won’t be easy.”
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