Gimenez and Godin leave Ronaldo staring at Champions League exit despite VAR’s best efforts
Chelsea loanee Alvaro Morata replaced the luckless Diego Costa and thought he had headed his side in front but was controversially denied before the Uruguayan defenders put Atletico in control
CRISTIANO RONALDO deflected into his own goal as Atletico Madrid put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Alvaro Morata came off the bench to replace the luckless Diego Costa and inspire his new side to victory - despite VAR’s best efforts.
Goals from Uruguayan defenders Jose Maria Gimenez and Diego Godin secured the first-leg advantage for Diego Simeone's men.
And now Ronaldo and his Juventus team-mates have a mountain to climb if the Portuguese legend is going to win a sixth Champions League crown this season.
Chelsea loanee Morata thought he had given the Spaniards the lead with a thumping header, only for referee Felix Zwayer to controversially rule it out after a push on Giorgio Chiellini.
But his header with 12 minutes remaining was blocked by Mario Mandzukic before Gimenez smashed the hosts into a deserved lead from close range.
Five minutes later, Diego Godin’s volley deflected in off Ronaldo, who turned his back giving Wojciech Szczesny no chance.
Costa had earlier been denied a penalty when he was fouled on the corner of the box but after Zwayer pointed to the spot, replays showed the contact was outside.
He will miss the second leg thanks to a stupid yellow card for encroaching in the wall after just eight minutes - but on tonight's evidence Morata will be a fine replacement at his former stomping ground.
With Ronaldo anonymous for much of the game, his team-mate Leonardo Bonucci headed over a glorious chance in a first half of limited opportunities before Costa fluffed his lines when clean through soon after the break.
Szczesny produced a stunning save just a minute later, expertly tipping Antoine Griezmann’s deft lob on to the crossbar as Juventus desperately held on.
But their resolve was finally undone when Gimenez pounced and Godin's second could have put the tie beyond Juve.
Elsewhere, Sevilla were the first team to secure their Europa League last-16 place with a 3-0 aggregate win over Lazio.
Wissam Ben Yedder and Pablo Sarabia scored in a 2-0 win for the Spaniards as both teams finished with ten men.