Leipzig beaten in Madrid

Atlético Madrid 2-1 RB Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Šeško 4', 1-1 Griezmann 28' (assist: Llorente), 2-1 Giménez 90' (assist: Griezmann)

Few tasks in European football are as challenging as a trip to Diego Simeone's Atléti, but Die Roten Bullen didn't seemed fazed as they took the lead inside the opening five minutes. Leipzig responded to a Colchoneros counter-attack with one of their own and, although Jan Oblak got a hand to Loïs Openda's strike, he was unable to keep out Benjamin Šeško's rebound header. The hosts had little in the way of a response until Willi Orbán was required to produce a crucial last-gasp block to deny Antoine Griezmann. Simeone's side are known for their intensity, and they made life difficult for the visitors during the second part of the opening period. Shortly after Ángel Correa hit the post with a front-post flick from a corner, Atléti were back on level terms as Griezmann volleyed Marcos Llorente's cross beyond Péter Gulácsi. Between then and half-time, the pace of the game could only be described as frantic, with neither outfit able to produce end product of the desired quality under constant opposition pressure.

After the interval, Leipzig were initially able to get to grips with Atléti. Correa did have a deflected shot saved by Gulácsi, while Griezmann fired wildly over, but Marco Rose's men were untroubled. At the other end, Benjamin Henrichs tested Oblak with a swerving, dipping free-kick that was ultimately parried to safety. Both head coaches shuffled their packs in the second period, with Simeone introducing former Leipzig striker Alexander Sørloth to the fray, and the Norwegian quickly placed a header straight into Gulácsi's hands. Xavi had been on the periphery of the game for much of the encounter until he steered a shot over the bar from the middle of the penalty area. Had substitute Yussuf Poulsen's header snuck in at the far post instead of flashing wide of the post, Leipzig may have picked up all three points, but they ultimately left with nothing as José María Giménez headed in Griezmann's cross in the final minute of normal time. Rose and Co. must now dust themselves down ahead of clashes with Augsburg and St. Pauli, with a home game against Juventus their next fixture in this competition.

Match stats

• Leipzig beat Atléti in their only previous meeting, winning their one-legged 2019/20 Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon 2-1.
• Poulsen made his 400th appearance for Leipzig.
• Šeško scored two goals in each of his Champions League appearances last term, with him now already halfway to matching that tally.
• Leipzig have now lost three of their eight games against Spanish opposition, with the two other defeats coming against Atlético's cross-city rivals Real.
• This was Leipzig's first defeat of the new campaign in all competitions.
• Atléti have won just two of their previous nine matches against German opposition (D2, L6).

Teams

Atlético: Oblak (c) - Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, Reinildo, Riquelme (Lino 62') - De Paul (Gallagher 63'), Koke (c), Griezmann (Witsel 90'+2) - Correa (Molina 66'), Alvarez (Sørloth 63')
Unused subs: Musso, Antonio Gomis, Azpilicueta, Lenglet, Witsel, Galán, Simeone, Javi Serrano
Out: Garcés (knee)
Coach: Diego Simeone

Leipzig: Gulácsi (c) - Henrichs (Poulsen 70'), Orbán, Lukeba, Raum - Haidara, Vermeeren (Seiwald 60'), Xavi (Elmas 83') - Nusa (Baumgartner 46'), Šeško (Geertruida 70') - Openda
Unused subs: Vandevoordt, Bitshiabu, Klostemann, André Silva, Kampl, Gebel
Out: Ouédraogo (knee), Schlager (knee)
Coach: Marco Rose

As it happened!