Two sides came into Wednesday’s Champions League round of 16 encounters ravaged by injuries, and the other two sides took advantage.
RB Leipzig beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in North London on a penalty by Timo Werner, while Atalanta crushed Valencia 4-1 at the San Siro in the first Champions League knockout stage game in club history.
Werner’s penalty lifts RB Leipzig past Spurs
While injuries have ransacked Spurs’ attacking corps, RB Leipzig’s striker proved the difference as Werner’s goal in the 58th minute handed his side a valuable away goal.
Ben Davies chopped down Konrad Laimer in the box, and Werner beat Hugo Lloris low with an expert finish:
Lloris acquitted himself well apart from the penalty, making four saves and plugging the dam as RB Leipzig generated numerous chances:
With Son Heung-min set for a lengthy absence with a fractured arm and Harry Kane is still sidelined with a hamstring tear, Tottenham didn’t offer much threat going forward against RB Leipzig, which controlled vast swaths of the match.