Soccer Football - Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 4, 2025 Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Juan Medina
MADRID (Reuters) -Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz scored a second-half winner as the hosts edged out neighbours Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a scrappy first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Tuesday after Julian Alvarez had cancelled out Rodrygo's opener.
It was a stuttering capital derby between bitter rivals who at times looked to be playing within themselves, seemingly conserving some energy for what is likely to be a compelling return leg at Atletico's Metropolitano Stadium next week.
