Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez’s late header helped his side edge past RB Leipzig 2-1 in their UEFA Champions League opener on Thursday. Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko’s header in the fourth minute of the game gave the German visitors a startling lead following a swift counterattack. However, Frenchman Antoine Griezmann leveled the score in the 28th minute with a stunning volley into the top corner.
With twenty shots on goal in the game, Atletico controlled, but they couldn’t hit the net until the 90th minute when Gimenez headed home a cross from Griezmann. Angel Correa and Griezmann had early, decent chances for Atletico to grab the lead. Still, midfielder Rodrigo de Paul’s error in the fourth minute allowed the visitors to launch a counterattack.
Sesko stole the ball from the Argentine, moving quickly to open up the play and draw the Atletico defense out of position. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak made a fantastic one-handed save to stop Lois Openda’s shot from the right edge of the box, but Sesko was first to the rebound and headed into an empty net, outpacing defender Robin Le Normand.
The hosts continued to apply pressure and create multiple opportunities until Griezmann found the equalizer in the 28th minute, but the goal had no effect on the game’s momentum. Argentine forward player Correa initiated a fast counterattack by finding Marcos Llorente on the right side, and Griezmann volleyed Llorente’s cross into the top corner.
After a few more opportunities, the Frenchman forced Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi to make a one-handed save in the 79th minute to stop a header from close range, but he ultimately helped teammate Gimenez close to the finish to give Atletico a well-deserved victory.
Atletico will next play Benfica in Lisbon, while Leipzig will face Juventus in Turin on the second Champions League matchday on October 3, Thursday.
We knew that any mistake could cost us a goal, and that was what happened, but we were mature enough to keep calm and work our way back from behind. Griezmann told the media that starting on the right foot, and winning is very important.
Every Champions League game is difficult, no matter the opponent. We have to work hard and keep going like this. We have tried until the last moment. We have a deep squad that will make the difference, like today. We’re on the right track, but it’s only the beginning, the attacking midfielder asserted.
Meanwhile, Benfica earned a 2-1 victory over Crvena Zvezda, thanks to a fortunate goal by winger Kerem Akturkoglu and a brilliant free kick by his Turkish colleague Orkun Kokcu. In the ninth minute, Akturkoglu gave the Portuguese team the lead by scoring from close range on a cross at the far post.
A minute before the half-hour mark, Kokcu extended the lead with a well-executed free-kick curl from around 25 meters that found the net well inside the upper right corner. Felicio Milson scored a close-range goal to cut the lead for Zvezda just four minutes before time, but they failed to find an equalizer to draw the match. Red Star will next meet Inter Milan on October 2, Wednesday.
