UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen book direct spots in Round of 16
UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen book direct spots in Round of 16
Atletico Madrid booked its place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a top-eight finish and automatic qualification after a decisive 4-0 win over RB Salzburg on Wednesday including a double from Antoine Griezmann.
The win left Atletico fifth in the standings, with its opponents in the next round to be determined after the playoffs.
Salzburg, 34th and third from bottom, exits the competition with just three points from eight games.
Giuliano Simeone, son of coach Diego Simeone, got Atletico off to a dream start, opening the scoring with a right-footed shot inside the first five minutes, assisted by Julian Alvarez.
The 22-year-old winger was again instrumental eight minutes later, sending in a brilliant cross that Griezmann converted. The Frenchman struck again on the stroke of half-time, finishing off a Samuel Lino counter-attack.
Marcos Llorente rounded off the scoring on 63 minutes with a right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner after a quick break by Rodrigo de Paul. The host grabbed a consolation goal in the 91st minute through Adam Daghim.
A goal in each half sent Bayer Leverkusen into the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday with a comfortable 2-0 win over a toothless Sparta Prague side unable to offer much resistance to the German champion.
Leverkusen broke through in the 32nd minute after dominating play from the opening whistle when Jeremie Frimpong collected the ball at midfield, raced down the right flank and sent in a cross to Florian Wirtz who hit a first-time shot past Sparta keeper Peter Vindahl.
The German club spent most of the match piling pressure on Sparta’s backline while the visitor struggled to hold possession or create attacking opportunities.
Nathan Tella gave Leverkusen breathing room in the 64th minute when he slammed home a rebound into an empty net after Vindahl did well to parry away Alejandro Grimaldo’s direct free-kick from outside the penalty area.
Sparta forward Victor Olatunji created two quick chances just after the re-start but the visitor never offered much of a threat to coach Xabi Alonso’s side.
Sparta Prague drops out of the competition after a disappointing campaign with one win, a draw and six losses.
