RB Leipzig kicked off their UEFA Champions League campaign with a late 2-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.
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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 Bullendidn'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
Champions League League phase, Matchday 1 League phase, Matchday 1 Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid
Full-time: Atléti 2-1 Leipzig
Leipzig are beaten in Madrid, despite taking the lead. It was a tough night at the office - teams rarely have it easy here - but Leipzig once again showed they belong among Europe's best.
Griezmann works some space in the box, before hanging up a back-post cross for Gimenez to power home with his head. That's surely three points for the home side. Heartache for Leipzig!
Gulácsi to Leipzig's rescue with a flying save to keep out Griezmann's header. Brilliant goalkeeping!
75'
Aim for the big man
Leipzig are trying to get the ball out to the left for Raum and into he box for substitute Poulsen. Twice now they've found joy in those kind of areas.
71'
Leipzig old boy
After a flurry of activity on both benches, Sörloth's first meaningful attempt is to head a Molina cross straight at former Leipzig teammate Gulácsi.
Antonio Nusa makes way for Christoph Baumgartner at the start of the second half. The energetic 19-year-old just wasn't able to put his mark on the game.
Oblak gets something on a probing Raum cross in the last meaningful action of an entertaining first half. Leipzig struck first, but have been up against it since conceding the equaliser. Don't be surprised if Rose makes changes at the break...
Leipzig living dangerously again as Haidara's forced into evasive action to stop Llorente doing some damage in the penalty area. Can the Bundesliga side hold out until the break?
39'
Lukeba booking
The Frenchman is back on, but gets a ticking off for his challenge on Correa.
Lukeba needs treatment after colliding with Correa. Rose may need to make a change...
33'
Nervy times
After that bright start and early goal, Leipzig are really up against it. They need to weather this storm.
28'
This one counts
Leipzig are pegged back as Correa sends Llorente away. He whips over a cross to the penalty spot, where Griezmann fires a very tidy finish past Gulácsi. That had been coming.
Correa thinks he's scored with a header, but the ball hadn't crossed the line. Suddenly, Leipzig look vulnerable.
25'
Chances!
Griezmann shoots wide one minute, and then it takes a brilliant recovery challenge from Lukeba to stop Correa from getting off a shot inside the Leipzig box following a mistake by Vermeeren.
Leipzig have composed themselves after that scare. They're playing with real composure and confidence, which is no mean feat at the Metropolitano.
15'
Heroic!
Atléti look certain to score as Riquelme goes round Gulacsi and squares for Griezmann. The goal's gaping, but Orban slides int to block. Superb defending!
11'
All systems Šeško!
Šeško really means business. He draws a foul from Le Normand, and then tries to get on the end of Xavi's free-kick, but the ball goes behind for a corner.
Now it's the away fans who are really rocking! Šeško leads the charge after an Atléti attack breaks down. He tees up Openda, whose shot from the edge of the area is palmed back out by Oblak for Šeško to head home.
Leipzig mean business as Šeško goes within a whisker of connecting with Raum's dangerous centre. Way to worry the partisan home crowd!
Kick-off!
More on those teams
Rose hands summer signings Antonio Nusa and Arthur Vermeeren - the latter on loan from Atléti - their first Leipzig starts. Defender Willi Orban's following a domestic suspension. Messrs Geertruida, Klostermann and Kampl make way. As for the hosts, ex-Dortmund man Axel Witsel is among the subs. Julián Alvarez leads the line, with Antoine Griezmann in deeper role.
Leipzig boss Rose was sat alongside Orbán, telling media he wants his team to stick to their gameplan in Spain's capital. "We want to play our game – we have a footballing philosophy. Atleti have a clear tactical identity and can easily adapt to their opposition's setup. We're looking forward to the quality and talent that we're going to come up against."
Willi Orbán was in front of the cameras on the eve of tonight's game, saying: "We've got a lot of experience in our ranks. A lot of our players have been playing in the Champions League for a number of years. Last year, we played well against Real Madrid. It's why we play football. We've got to be focused for 90 minutes. The game could be decided at any moment."
There have already been wins for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League this week, with VfB Stuttgart's battling defeat to champions Real Madrid the sole loss for Bundesliga clubs. It's over to Leipzig and Leverkusen tonight, the former in Madrid looking to get one over Atléti. Kick-off is at 9pm CEST, in the meantime we'll have all the build-up, starting with some pre-match quotes...
0:57
Watch: Red Bulls set for another UCL charge
Leipzig kick off their seventh season of Champions League football with designs on emulating their run to the 2019/20 semi-finals.
Atlético team news
Pablo Barrios and Borja Garcés are unavailable to Diego Simeone. The rest of his squad, though is at his disposal, with the likes of Connor Gallagher and Julián Álvarez set to make their Champions League bows for the club.
Marco Rose will be without Assan Ouédraogo and Xaver Schlager in the middle of the park, but will have all of his key attacking lieutenants available, including Xavi Simons and Loïs Openda.
Loïs Openda missed a penalty as Leipzig dropped points for the first time this season on Matchday 3 - Atletico won 3-0 at Valencia last weekend and are also unbeaten five matches into the Spanish league season.
Sørloth reunion
Alexander Sørloth scored five goals in 30 Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig between 2020 and 2022. He's been at Atletico only since this summer when he joined from Villarreal.
The only time these two have met in European competition was the 2019/20 quarter-final when Tyler Adams' late goal took Leipzig into the last four in Lisbon.
The UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League have all undergone a revamp for the 2024/25 season. There are more teams, more games and a new ‘Swiss’-style format. Check out the article on bundesliga.com to find out how it’s all going to work.
Leipzig go into a new European season with a familiar face back in their squad. The mesmeric Xavi agreed to one more season on loan at the Red Bull Arena from Paris Saint-Germain and the Dutch master will be one hell of an asset to the Bundesliga outfit in this Champions League campaign.
4:14
Intent signalled
Leipzig finished fourth in the Bundesliga last term, and they signalled their ambitions under Marco Rose with an impressive start to the current campaign. Just two games in, and the Red Bulls ended champions' Bayer Leverkusen's lengthy unbeaten record in domestic competition.
12:00
RB Leipzig: the lowdown
Get your pen and pad out, it's time to get some in-depth knowledge of Leipzig ahead of their big European kick-off!
Oh what a night
The sides' only previous meeting in European competition turned out to be one of the most famous in Leipzig's history. Die Roten Bullen won a quarter-final, one-off game against Atlético in the Covid-hit season of 2019/20. Tyler Adams's strike two minutes from time in Lisbon sent Julian Nagelsmann's side into the Champions League last four, where they were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain.
It's season number six in a row in the UEFA Champions League for RB Leipzig and the Saxony-based side will be seeking to repeat their amazing semi-final feat of 2019/20 when they get their latest tournament tilt underway in the Spanish capital.
Thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of RB Leipzig's opening UEFA Champions League game of the 2024/25 league phase away at Atlético Madrid of Spain.
