Yahoo News Leicester City frustrated as referee's error hands Atletico Madrid the edge in Champions League tie
Leicester City will have to overturn a first-leg deficit at the King Power Stadium next week after they slipped to defeat in Madrid.
The Foxes defended stubbornly at Vicente Calderon against Atletico Madrid and will be disappointed with the manner of this Champions League loss.
Referee Jonas Eriksson felt the wrath of the travelling supporters as it was his error that ultimately settled the contest in Spain.
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Antoine Griezmann went tumbling midway through the first half under the challenge of Mark Albrighton and Eriksson duly pointed to the spot.
But replays clearly showed the tackle was made outside of the penalty area and the man in the middle had been fooled by the speed of the Frenchman.
Griezmann showed exactly why Manchester United want him this summer by picking himself up and calmly slotting home past Kasper Schmeichel.
The goal had been coming as Atletico Madrid created plenty of chances in the opening 45 minutes and they rattled the woodwork through Koke early on.
However, Craig Shakespeare’s plucky underdogs defended admirably and kept former Chelsea striker Fernando Torres under wraps in the Spanish capital.
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Torres, a hero at Liverpool and an undoubted flop at Stamford Bridge, gave British fans a reminder of his failings with an untimely slip in the second half.
He was clean through on goal and only had Schmeichel to beat when he made a hash of the finish and found the corner flag rather than the net.
Had that gone in, Madrid would have been in total command and fancied themselves to get the job done with little trouble.
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Stupid challenge, but outside the box. Ref 5 yards away. Extraordinary.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 12, 2017
He was clean through on goal and only had Schmeichel to beat when he made a hash of the finish and found the corner flag rather than the net.
Had that gone in, Madrid would have been in total command and fancied themselves to get the job done with little trouble.
Instead, Leicester City will feel this tie is very much still alive heading into the return leg on Tuesday.
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The Foxes shocked the football world by lifting the Premier League title last May and will need to draw upon that same spirit to make the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, arrests have been made after Leicester fans clashed with Spanish police before the tie in Madrid.
