A game of two halves and no goals. Especially two halves. But especially no goals.
Real and Atletico played out a predicted 0-0 scoreline in their Champions League quarter final first leg but the action at either end was more entertaining than perhaps expected.
Carlo Ancelotti’s European champions dominated the first period and missed a couple of golden opportunities to take an away goal from Atletico’s stomping ground but it was Diego Simeone’s champions – league champions – who bossed the second period.
As it was, it’s all to play for heading into the second leg in the Bernabeu. Sure it’s only half time. This is a tie of two halves.
Atletico Madrid
Jan Oblak: Solid
Juanfran: Cool
Diego Godin: Exterminator
Miranda: Grew
Guilherme Siqueira: Reprieved
Arda Turan: Brick
Mario Suarez: Wall
Gabi: Maestro
Koke: Decelerating
Antoine Griezmann: Daring
Mario Mandzukic: Freaked
Subs
Raul Garcia: Overseeing
Fernando Torres: Theatrical
Real Madrid
Iker Casillas: Thankful
Dani Carvajal: Swinging
Sergio Ramos: Apache
Raphael Varane: Porsche
Marcelo: Wanderlust
Toni Kroos: Speculative
Luka Modric: Heartbeat
James Rodriquez: Curling
Gareth Bale: Choke
Karim Benzema: Selfless
Cristiano Ronaldo: Hokey-Pokey
Subs
Alvaro Arbeloa: Unnecessary
Isco: Minced
