Atletico Madrid Takes a 2-1 Advantage over Borussia Dortmund in Champions League Quarterfinal First Leg
Morata's Brace Earns Atletico a Crucial Victory
Dortmund Faces Uphill Battle in Second Leg
WEB Atletico Madrid has taken a significant step towards returning to the Champions League semifinals after securing a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their quarterfinal clash. The win puts Diego Simeone's side in a strong position heading into the second leg at the Signal Iduna Park.
Atletico's victory was largely thanks to striker Alvaro Morata, who netted twice in the second half. The Spanish forward opened the scoring in the 54th minute with a clinical finish after being played through by Koke. Dortmund drew level just eight minutes later through Raphael Guerreiro, but Morata restored Atletico's lead in the 74th minute with a header from a Kieran Trippier cross.
Despite being reduced to 10 men in the closing stages following a red card for Mario Hermoso, Atletico managed to hold on for an important victory. Dortmund will now need to score at least twice in the second leg to progress to the semifinals, a task that will be made even more difficult by the suspension of key midfielder Jude Bellingham.
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