Atletico Madrid's Champions League hopes hang by a thread after
they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Group C minnows Qarabag on Tuesday
despite playing a large part of the second half against 10 men.
The
home side had far more chances than the team from Azerbaijan in the first half
but fell behind in the 40th minute when Spanish midfielder Michel rose to meet
a corner and delivered too powerful a header for Jan Oblak to keep out.
Midfielder
Thomas Partey equalised in the 56th minute with a thunderous long-range strike
and Atletico were given another boost when Brazilian Pedro Henrique was sent
off a minute later.
Yet
despite laying siege to the visitors' area, Atletico could not find a winner
and, to complete their miserable night, they also had their own defender Stefan
Savic sent off for a second booking in the 88th minute.
Diego
Simeone's side, Champions League runners up in 2014 and 2016 and semifinalists
last season, are third in Group C on three points, five behind leaders AS Roma
and four behind Chelsea.
It means
Atletico now need to hope for something remarkable to avoid a group stage exit
for the first time since returning to Europe's elite competition in 2013