Real Madrid were left frustrated by a brilliant Atletico rearguard performance as Carlo Ancelotti’s side were held to a 0-0 draw in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
A combination of wasteful visitors' finishing and inspired defensive work from the hosts ensured the contest lies firmly in the balance as Real failed to score for the fourth time at the Vicente Calderon this season.
Real dominated the early proceedings and should have gone ahead within three minutes, but man of the match Jan Oblak denied Gareth Bale when the Welsh winger should have really scored.
Oblak saved from Bale and James Rodriguez either side of a Luka Modric opening, which the former Spurs midfielder fired over after a fine break involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo.
Atletico were restricted to containing their city rivals and looked to pounce on the counter attack, and Iker Casillas had to be sharp to deny Antoine Grezimann after Sergio Ramos’ poor clearance.
After the break, Arda Turan spurned the hosts’ best chance by heading just wide from Juanfran’s clever clipped cross, whilst Atletico centre-back Miranda brilliantly blocked close range efforts from Bale and then Ronaldo soon after.
Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic then appeared to be punched in the stomach by Real fullback Dani Carvajal, but the incident went unseen by the match officials.
The game opened up in the later stages but both defences held strong going into next week’s second leg at the Bernabeu as Atletico extended their unbeaten record over their arch rivals to seven games since last year’s Champions League final.
In the other tie, Juventus will take a slender lead into their second leg in France after an Arturo Vidal penalty ensured a 1-0 victory over Monaco in Turin.
Alvaro Morata, Carlos Tevez and Vidal were all guilty of wasting great openings for the hosts in the first half against an Aymen Abdennour-inspired Ligue 1 side.
Monaco, who had conceded just four goals in the competition until tonight, frustrated their hosts and had chances to go ahead, but Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco shot straight at Gianluigi Buffon when well placed.
It took until just before the hour mark for Juventus to break down their stubborn opponents, and it arrived through Vidal’s emphatic penalty after Ricardo Carvalho tripped Morata inside the area.
Aside from a Dimitar Berbatov header that went harmlessly over the bar, Monaco failed to threaten Buffon's goal as the hosts held on for a crucial advantage in their bid to reach a first Champions League semi-final since 2003.
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