Getting a penalty after the ultimate whistle had blown wasn’t sufficient to maintain Atlético Madrid within the Champions League.
Yannick Carrasco missed a spot kick that was awarded following a VAR verify after the referee had already signaled the sport was over, which meant the Spanish membership was eradicated following a frantic ending to a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
THIS IS HOW ATLETICO MADRID JUST GOT ELIMINATED FROM THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE🤯pic.twitter.com/qdHGzLxYib
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) October 26, 2022
The referee blew his whistle after Leverkusen defended a nook however Atlético’s gamers appealed furiously for a handball. A video assessment confirmed the ball had been deflected into two Leverkusen gamers’ arms within the crowded penalty space. A spot kick was given for handball in opposition to one in every of them, Piero Hincapié, however Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky saved Carrasco’s effort it earlier than Atlético’s Saúl Ñíguez crashed a header in opposition to the crossbar on the rebound. Reinildo tried to attain on the third try however the ball hit one in every of his personal teammates and deflected out of play.
Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky saves a penalty in the course of the group B Champions League soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Bayer 04 Leverkusen on the Civitas Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernaandez)
Atlético gamers appeared to argue that Hradecky had left his line early and the penalty ought to be retaken, however these appeals have been brushed apart. A replay confirmed Hradecky’s again foot was on the road when the ball was struck.
Atlético twice recovered from a aim down in opposition to Leverkusen however wanted to win to keep away from its first group-stage exit in 5 years.
Leverkusen was eradicated earlier than kickoff when Porto beat Club Brugge within the early sport however seemed unaffected as first Moussa Diaby after which Callum Hudson-Odoi scored first-half objectives to complete off slick staff strikes.
Atlético responded to Diaby’s aim with one from Yannick Carrasco, assisted by Antoine Griezmann, earlier than Rodrigo de Paul’s spectacular curling equalizer early within the second half made it 2-2. Leverkusen was eager to waste time however almost received the sport on the counter, foiled solely by lightning response saves from Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
At the opposite finish, Leverkusen stayed within the contest because of sensible goalkeeping from Hradecky because the Finland worldwide completed with 9 saves together with his penalty cease.
It was the most effective performances of a disastrous season for Leverkusen, which is floundering in fifteenth within the 18-team Bundesliga. The draw leaves Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, twice a Champions League winner as a participant, and not using a win within the 4 video games since Leverkusen beat Schalke on his debut.
