Julian Alvarez scored twice in the second half to lead a 10-man Atletico Madrid to a comeback 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at home on Tuesday, propelling them toward a top-eight finish.
Atletico faced a setback when Barrios received a red card for a dangerous challenge after 23 minutes, and Leverkusen capitalized when Piero Hincapie scored just before the halftime whistle. However, fueled by the support of 70,000 fans, Atletico rebounded in the second half, with Alvarez finishing a pitch-length counterattack to tie the game at 52 minutes.
Hincapie received his second yellow card with 14 minutes left, evening the player count, and Atletico seized the opportunity. In the 90th minute, Alvarez exploited Leverkusen’s defensive lapses to score the winner.
“Things looked bleak,” Alvarez reflected post-match. “By sticking to our strategy and maintaining humility, we secured the equalizer. With the sides even, we spotted our chance to clinch the victory.”
This thrilling win places Atletico third in the Champions League table, ensuring they avoid an additional knockout round by securing a last-16 berth well before their final group match against Red Bull Salzburg.
“These three points are crucial; they reinforce our belief in our approach,” Alvarez added.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen, set to host Sparta Prague next, ends the night in sixth place.
“We failed to manage the game maturely,” Jonathan Tah of Leverkusen admitted to DAZN, noting Atletico drew them into a “battle” boosted by vigorous home support. “Losing such a tough away game is profoundly disappointing.”
Both teams entered the match in excellent form, with Leverkusen having secured 12 consecutive wins across all competitions and Atletico enjoying a 15-match winning streak before a recent upset against Leganes in La Liga.
Pre-match, both coaches exchanged compliments, with Atletico’s Diego Simeone praising his counterpart Alonso for transforming Leverkusen into an “extraordinary team.” Alonso reciprocated, commending Simeone’s deep connection with his team.
Despite the cordial comments, the game was fiercely contested, evidenced by multiple bookings in the first half. After Barrios’ dismissal altered the game’s dynamics, Leverkusen initially took control, only for Atletico to rally spectacularly after the break.
Atletico employed a direct approach in the second half, exploiting the open play. After an extended Leverkusen attack, Antoine Griezmann’s long forward pass set Alvarez up to force an error and score. This set the stage for his decisive late strike, which secured a memorable win for Atletico despite being short-handed.
