RB Leipzig creates history by entering into the first-ever semifinal of the UEFA Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinal at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.
The debutant Leipzig had nothing to lose in the quarterfinal but the La-Liga club was the favourites on Thursday night. Both teams executed their plans right and ticked all the points in the first half. The action-based premise couldn’t convert into the score as the first half ended with no goal.
Die Roten Bullen got the opportunity with some neat passes but didn’t see any goal. The Atletico forwards Marcos Llorente and Diego Costa were the non-performers in the first half as they didn’t exchange a single pass against RB Leipzig.
Simeone's call to start with Costa ahead of Joao Felix hurt them with a defeat. Costa appeared for the 72 minutes and his pass accuracy was so dull with the least number of passes.
In the second half, Werner's absence was overshadowed by Marcel Sabitzer who got in behind the backline and laid the ball off for Olmo who netted a goal through the deft header to take 1-0 lead for Leipzig. The young American was the unsung hero of the Leipzig's historic victory.
The Spanish Giants equalized by Joao Felix from the spot in the second half. The 19-year-old did wonder to prove his potential appearance at night with 100% pass accuracy and 3/3 take-on, winning a penalty and converting into a goal. The Portuguese player replaced Costa and inspired the club to pick some spark in the game after going down 1-0. Felix did in his 40 minutes what the major striker couldn’t in the whole game.
The game was going in the final minutes, the Die Roten Bullen strike in 88th-minute courtesy of Tyler Adams’ strike deflected off Stefan Savic to make sure the first-ever Champions League semifinal. Bundesliga outfit will now face Paris-Saint-Germain in Tuesday's semi-final at the Estadio Da Luz.
