JAKARTA - Diego Simeone said Real Madrid's failure to add a third goal in a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, early in the morning WIB, made the door open for his troops to turn things around in the second leg next week.
Rodrygo put Real Madrid ahead just four minutes from the start at the Madrid Derby at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Julian Alvarez then equalized, before Brahim Diaz brought the hosts to ensure victory.
However, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior had minimal contributions, meaning that Simeone's strategy to kill the two attackers was successful. Both of them were unable to work together to score the third goal for Los Blancos.
In fact, Atletico had dominated for a long time to carry out the attack on Real Madrid.
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"We ended up competing well. There was a risk at the end, when they grabbed the ball, with Mbappe and Vinicius finishing it."
"It's not a goal. It makes our chances open for what will happen next," Atletico coach Simeone told a news conference after the match.
Los Blancos manager, Carlo Ancelotti, agrees that his team has difficulty breaking into Atletico's defense.
No wonder, according to him, the second leg match will be much more difficult with the opportunity for Los Rojiblancos to turn things around is still wide open.
"If today is difficult, imagine how difficult it will be next week. However, we have a bit of profit. It will be difficult (at Metropolitano). Not much will change," said Carlo Ancelotti.
However, the Italian coach continued to defend the performances of Mbappe and Vinicius, who did not score many goals.
"Playing against Atletico's defense is not easy. Mbappe and Vinicius don't have many chances."
"They had one chance at the end of the game they should have done better, but they worked hard, and they fought."
"They didn't show the quality they had, but they had the chance to do it in the second leg," said Ancelotti.
In three years with Ancelotti, Rodrygo, who opened Real Madrid's lead, was also surprised by Atletico's performance.
"Atletico surprised us a little today. Usually when we fight them, we always attack."
"Today, they have more possession of the ball. We have to defend, but then we played well in the second half through Brahim's goal," Rodrygo told Movistar.
Meanwhile, Simeone admitted that the 2-1 defeat for his team was not a good result.
However, he said his players are competing well and will need to work hard in front of their own supporters next week.
Simeone further paid attention to Brahim Diaz. He celebrated his winning goal by jumping at the audience at Bernabeu - which earned him a yellow card - and then shouted angry at Simeone.
The day before, the Atletico coach said he did not expect Diaz to start at the Bernabeu. He expects Luka Modric to play instead.
Apart from that, Real Madrid and Atletico are competing for trophies in various competitions.
Not only in La Liga, which is currently Atletico in second place enjoying a two-point lead over Real Madrid.
Opportunities for the Champions League quarter-finals are also still open. In addition, both of them are still in the Copa del Rey.
The second leg of the Champions League last 16 will be held at Metropolitano on March 12, 2025.
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