Atlético Madrid fought back from a goal and a man down to rescue a dramatic 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The hosts played more than an hour with a 10 men after midfielder Pablo Barrios was shown a straight red card for a reckless studs-up tackle from behind on Jeremie Frimpong in the 24th minute. Jan Oblak made a string of saves but the Germans broke the deadlock just before the break with a headed goal by Piero Hincapié.
The game appeared to be Leverkusen’s to lose, but Atlético found a leveller as Julián Álvarez brilliantly finished a counterattack in the 52nd minute. Hincapié was then sent off after picking up a second booking for a foul from behind on Giuliano Simeone in the 76th minute, giving Atlético the incentive to chase a winner.
Diego Simeone’s side piled on the pressure until Álvarez was played in by substitute Ángel Correa, beat the offside trap, went round the goalkeeper and tapped the ball into the empty net to spark wild celebrations in the 90th minute.
The victory lifted Diego Simeone’s side to third in the standings on 15 points, three behind second-placed Barcelona – who won 5-4 at Benfica in another thrilling comeback – and six behind leaders Liverpool. Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen are sixth, one of seven sides currently sitting on 13 points.
Bologna struck twice in two minutes to bag a 2-1 comeback win over Borussia Dortmund, earning their first win in the competition this season and piling pressure on Nuri Sahin after his side suffered a fourth straight loss in all competitions.
The visitors took the lead with a 15th-minute Serhou Guirassy penalty but Bologna, who had only scored once in their first six games, staged a quickfire comeback with goals from Thijs Dallinga in the 71st minute and Samuel Iling-Junior, on loan from Aston Villa, a minute later as Dortmund’s defence faltered.
Luuk de Jong scored twice as 10-man PSV Eindhoven held on for a 3-2 victory over Red Star Belgrade in freezing conditions in Serbia. The Dutch centre-forward rose to head home twice from Joey Veerman’s corners, with Ryan Flamingo volleying in a thunderous strike to make it three before half-time.
Flamingo was in the pink but that turned to red early in the second half, as he was harshly sent off after brining down Nemanja Radonjic on the edge of the box. Red Star netted through headers from Cherif Ndiaye and Nasser Djiga but could not find an equaliser, and PSV remain on course for the playoffs with 11 points from seven games.
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Stuttgart boosted their hopes of securing a playoff place as they won 3-1 at Slovan Bratislava, who lost their seventh game in a row in the league phase. Jamie Leweling scored twice in the first half for the visitors, first slotting home from Deniz Undav’s square ball and then finishing on the rebound after Enzo Millot’s shot was saved.
Leweling put a free header into the side netting just before the break, but Stuttgart were comfortable until five minutes from time, when Tigran Barseghyan set up fellow substitute Idjessi Metsoko to pull a goal back. Just two minutes later, though, Fabian Rieder restored the German side’s two goal cushion and secured victory.
Juventus were held to a 0-0 draw at Belgian champions Club Brugge in a largely uneventful clash. The hosts had their best chance to break the deadlock when forward Ferran Jutglà sent a low shot just wide of the left post.
Juve midfielder Manuel Locatelli produced the game’s only shot on target, but his effort from distance late on was tipped away by Simon Mignolet. The stalemate leaves Juventus 14th on 12 points, with Club Brugge three places below them on 11 points.
Earlier on Tuesday, Atalanta thrashed the Austrian team Sturm Graz 5-0 to sit fourth in the table and stay on track for a place in the top eight. The teams who finish eighth or higher in the final table will advance straight to the round of 16, avoiding an extra playoff round.
Last season’s Europa League winners dominated from start to finish as they earned the first home win of their Champions League campaign. Mateo Retegui gave Atalanta an early lead after a defensive mishap and it remained 1-0 at the break.
Mario Pasalic doubled the advantage in the 58th minute, before Charles De Ketelaere bundled the ball in to make it 3-0 five minutes later. The Belgian then set up Ademola Lookman for their fourth goal in the 90th minute, and substitute Marco Brescianini sealed the rout in stoppage time.
