Saul Niguez scored the only goal as Champions League holders Liverpool suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on their return to the Wanda Metropolitano.
Spain striker Niguez fired home after just four minutes to give Atletico the advantage after the first leg of their last-16 tie against the 2019 champions.
Liverpool pushed and probed thereafter but failed to muster a single shot on target as Atletico retreated into a defensive rearguard action to thwart the Premier League leaders.
Despite having plenty of the ball, Jurgen Klopp's men could not find a way through, making for an unhappy return to the venue where they won last year's final.
Goal clips
📞 Better Call Saul!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) February 18, 2020
⚽️ The Atletico Madrid midfielder certainly answered.
🏟 What a start for the hosts. The Wanda Metropolitano is bouncing!
👇 #ATLLIV #ChampionsLeague #Atleti #LFC pic.twitter.com/9S6KAljNMY
Reaction
"They celebrated like they won the tie after the game, so let's see."
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 18, 2020
"They're coming back to Anfield, we know our fans will be there."
Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson know this one isn't over yet 💪
🎙 @DesKellyBTS pic.twitter.com/5tJpyM9DvH
Klopp: It's not over yet
"They only wanted this result, 0-0 would have been OK for them."
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 18, 2020
"Welcome to Anfield... It's not over yet."
Jurgen Klopp knows it's all to play for despite a 1-0 loss to Atletico 👊@DesKellyBTS 🎙 pic.twitter.com/qCOZ8SPitA
Opta stats
- Since the start of last season, Liverpool have lost six of their 10 away games in the Champions League (W4); no side has lost more away from home in the competition in this time (level with Crvena Zvezda).
- Atlético Madrid remain unbeaten in 13 home games in the Champions League knockout stages under Diego Simeone (W9 D4), keeping 11 clean sheets across those matches.
- Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has failed to win all seven of his away games against Spanish clubs in the Champions League (D3 L4), including three with Liverpool (D1 L2).
- Atlético have won 12 of their last 13 home matches in all major European competitions (D1), also keeping 11 clean sheets in this run.
- Two of Liverpool’s three defeats in all competitions this season have come in the Champions League, also losing 2-0 at Napoli in September 2019 (the third defeat being their 5-0 loss to Aston Villa in the EFL Cup in December 2019).
- Saúl Ñíguez's opener for Atlético (03:46) was the earliest Liverpool have conceded in the Champions League since Gabriel Jesus scored past them in the second minute for Man City in April 2018; nine of Saúl's 10 Champions League goals have come in the first half.
- Saúl Ñíguez became only the second player to score 10 Champions League goals for Atlético Madrid, after Antoine Griezmann (21).
- Since the start of the 2013-14 season, Atlético’s Jan Oblak has kept 26 clean sheets in 49 Champions League games; no other goalkeeper has more in the competition in this time (level with Marc-André ter Stegen, 26 in 57 games).
- Liverpool failed to attempt a single shot on target for only the second time in their 251 games under Jürgen Klopp in all competitions (also v Napoli in October 2018 in the Champions League).
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