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Atletico Madrid logo
Champions League | Round-Of-16
Mar 17, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Leverkusen logo

1-0

Suarez (27')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Atletico win 3-2 on penalties

Player Ratings: Atletico Madrid 1-0(1) Bayer Leverkusen (Atletico win 3-2 on pens)

Sports Mole takes a look at how each player performed as Atletico Madrid overcame Bayer Leverkusen to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Atletico Madrid booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday evening after overcoming Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 on penalties in the second leg of their last-16 clash.

Atletico trailed 1-0 from the first leg in Germany, but Mario Suarez's first-half strike levelled the scores.

Penalties were needed to separate the two European rivals and it was Stefan Kiessling's missed spot kick that ultimately secured Atletico's passage into the last eight once again.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at how each individual player performed.


Mario Suarez of Atletico Madrid celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Bayer 04 Leverkusen on March 17, 2015© Getty Images

ATLETICO

Goal

Miguel Moya: Hardly touched the ball in the early stages and lasted just 23 minutes after picking up a hamstring problem. Will undergo scans to reveal the extent of the damage on Wednesday. (5/10)

Defence

Juanfran: Usually such a threat in the final third, but the Spaniard was more reserved here. Got forward on a couple of occasions, but was more concerned with his defensive work, which was good. (7/10)

Miranda: Caught out on a couple of occasions in the first period, but settled quickly to produce a strong performance. Formed a solid centre-back partnership with Jose Gimenez. (7/10)

Jose Gimenez: Replaced the suspended Diego Godin and was superb at the heart of the defence. Won almost all of his aerial duels and was strong on the deck. An excellent performance. (8/10)

Jesus Gamez: Has worked his way into the team in recent weeks and continued his solid run of form at left-back. Picked up a booking late on, but remained committed to the cause in extra time. (7/10)

Midfield

Mario Suarez: Brought into the team to cover his back four, but proved a threat in attack. Scored the only goal of the match during what was an energetic performance from the Spaniard. (8/10)

Koke: Got through plenty of work in the middle of the park, but the Spaniard's delivery from set pieces was a little disappointing. A proud night as he captained Atletico due to Gabi's absence. (7/10)

Cani: Was a surprise starter in the Atletico midfield and really struggled to make his mark. The game passed him by in the first period and he was replaced by Raul Garcia at the interval. (5/10)

Attack

Arda Turan: Rarely goes the full 90 minutes, but played all 120 in Madrid. Did not have much of an influence in the final third, but was excellent in a deeper position as the match advanced. (7/10)

Mario Mandzukic: Became involved in a physical battle with Leverkusen's centre-back pairing and as expected, was up for the challenge. Not many chances, but worked ever so hard in the final third. (6/10)

Antoine Griezmann: Always a threat in the final third as his pace caused Leverkusen problems. Had a couple of excellent chances, but just could not find the back of the net. (7/10)

Substitutes

Jan Oblak: Replaced Moya after just 23 minutes and put on a solid performance. Did not have much to do in normal time, but made one vital save in the penalty shootout. (7/10)

Raul Garcia: Replaced Cani at the interval, but struggled to make his usually-strong influence known. Also fired Atletico's first penalty in the shootout high of the crossbar. (6/10)

Fernando Torres: Was a little clumsy in the final third after entering in the final 10 minutes of normal time, but gave the Leverkusen defence problems and scored a beautiful penalty. (7/10)


Leverkusen's forward Karim Bellarabi (L) vies with Atletico Madrid's midfielder Cani during the UEFA Champions League football match on March 17, 2015© Getty Images

LEVERKUSEN

Goal

Bernd Leno: Was called into action on a number of occasions in the second period and was on hand to keep his team in the match. Did not deserve to be on the losing side in Madrid. (8/10)

Defence

Roberto Hilbert: Had a fairly solid match without pulling up too many trees. Found Griezmann's pace tough to contain during periods of the contest and did not get forward on many occasions. (6/10)

Emir Spahic: Had a really strong match at the heart of the defence. Won almost everything in the air and made a number of crucial blocks, especially in the second period. Man-of-the-match performance. (8/10)

Omer Toprak: Was unfortunate to deflect Suarez's low strike into his own net, but recovered from that blow to produce a strong performance. Was booked in the second half, but did not hide. (7/10)

Wendell: Probably the most attack-minded full-back on the field. Set up a couple of first-half chances for the visitors, while he was also nice and tidy in defensive areas. (7/10)

Midfield

Karim Bellarabi: Was a real letdown in the Spanish capital. Had time and space to make his mark in the final third, but never really got going on a poor night for the German international. (5/10)

Gonzalo Castro: Was a tower of strength in the middle of the park. Did not shirk the physical battle and was neat and tidy in possession. Also scored a super penalty in the shootout. (7/10)

Lars Bender: Eventually forced off with an injury in the first half of extra time, but the skipper gave everything for his side in the middle of the park. Effective at both ends of the field. (7/10)

Hakan Calhanoglu: Proved the match-winner in the first leg, but struggled to produce the goods in Madrid. Never really got into the match in a forward area and also missed in the shootout. (6/10)

Attack

Son Heung-min: Received two or three excellent passes in the first period, but the forward's touch let him down. Usually such a threat for Leverkusen, but the occasion got to him here. (5/10)

Josip Drmic: Worked hard in the final third and did occupy the Atletico defence, but ultimately lacked any real service. Was replaced by Stefan Kiessling after 69 minutes. (6/10)

Substitutes

Stefan Kiessling: Had a couple of sighters after entering 20 minutes from the end of normal time, but was the fall guy in the penalty shootout as he fired high of the crossbar. (6/10)

Simon Rolfes: Replaced Son after 77 minutes and immediately picked up the pace of the match. Radiated class each time he had possession and netted an excellent penalty in the shootout. (7/10)

Kyriakos Papadopoulos: Entered towards the end of the first half of extra time, but looked a little clumsy and picked up his side's sixth booking late on. (6/10)


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Mario Suarez of Atletico Madrid celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Bayer 04 Leverkusen on March 17, 2015
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Match Analysis: Atletico Madrid 1-0(1) Bayer Leverkusen
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