Atletico edges holder Liverpool with defensive masterclass

Spain midfielder Saul Niguez struck the only goal of the game in the fourth minute by bundling into the net from close range following a corner. Liverpool, which has won 25 of 26 Premier League games this season and is on course for a record-smashing title win, missed a series of chances to equalise in the second half.

Forward Mohamed Salah and captain Jordan Henderson came closest to scoring but didn’t disturb the board. Jurgen Klopp’s side plays at home to Atletico on March 11 in the return leg at Anfield, where it produced an incredible 4-0 win over Barcelona in last year’s semi-final second leg after losing the first match 3-0.

Diego Simeone’s team has not been at its best for most part of this campaign. But on Tuesday, it produced a vintage defensive display, barely giving Liverpool any space for its attacking trident of Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane to work its usual magic.

Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium was the scene of Liverpool’s 2-0 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in last year’s final but it faced a very different type of atmosphere this time around. Clouds of billowing red smoke greeted the Atletico bus when it arrived at the ground as the home supporters stoked up a scorching atmosphere.

The home side was happy to let Liverpool dominate possession. Despite having 73% of the ball, Klopp’s side did not manage a single shot on target, although Atletico defender Felipe did block a goal-bound shot from Salah in the first half. The host only had one other attempt aside from its goal, when Alvaro Morata fired straight at the legs of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.

Liverpool forward Mane then clashed with Sime Vrsaljko while on a yellow card and was swiftly substituted by Klopp for Divock Origi. Salah should have levelled with a header which went wide of the near post, while Henderson also narrowly missed the target from inside the area later on. Haaland gives Dortmund the win Borussia Dortmund’s lethal teenage striker Erling Haaland scored twice in eight minutes to lead it to a 2-1 win over Paris St Germain in its Champions League last 16 first leg in Dortmund on Tuesday.

The Norwegian, 19, who joined in the last transfer window, stabbed in from close range after a quick-fire passing move in the 69th minute. He then thundered home an unstoppable shot for his second goal in the 77th, two minutes after PSG’s Brazilian forward Neymar had levelled for the French champion.