Soccer-Atletico's Simeone rues missed chances against Real Madrid


Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 4, 2025 Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura

MADRID (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone was disappointed that his side failed to capitalise on the control they had for long periods of their 2-1 defeat to rivals Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

But Simeone said he was happy with how his team reacted to conceding an early goal, adding that he felt confident they could turn the tie around in the second leg at the Metropolitano stadium next week, as they did against Inter Milan at the same stage last year.

"We should have taken better advantage when we had control of the game," Simeone said.

"It's difficult to take risks so that with any counter-attack you end up losing the game. We controlled that situation very well, but we were missing (something) in the final metres."

The Argentine said he was confident that the atmosphere at their home ground would give Atletico "a stimulus" and that while his team go into the second leg behind, it could have been much worse had Real taken a late chance on Tuesday.

Real's Kylian Mbappe failed to find Vinicius Jr with a pass in the final moments of the match that could have led to another goal.

"Maybe the hope of that no goal opens the door for what's to come," he said.

(Reporting by Charlie Devereux; Editing by Toby Davis)

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