UEFA Champions League last two first leg quarter-final matches were played on Wednesday.
At the Emirates Stadium, London's Arsenal and Monaco's football players clashed. Arsene Wenger's players unexpectedly lost to the visitors from France with a score of 1-3.
The "Gunners" started the match successfully and controlled the ball confidently. However, A. Wenger's team failed to convert chances and in the 38th minute they suffered a painful blow when Geoffroy Kondogbia scored an impressive long-range goal.
The second half also started with Arsenal controlling the ball, but in the 53rd minute, another goal was scored into David Ospina's goal. Following a great pass from Anthony Martial, former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov sent the ball into the opponent's net.
Throughout the remaining time, Arsenal tried to reduce the score and ultimately, in the first minute of added time, substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain revived the host's hopes with a great shot. However, just a few minutes later, Yannick Ferreira scored the third Monaco goal, reducing Arsenal's chances of reaching the quarter-finals.
In other matches, another surprise was recorded when Bayer Leverkusen defeated last season's finalists Atletico Madrid by a minimal margin in their home field.
The only and winning goal of these matches was scored by Hakan Calhanoglu in the 57th minute. The hosts played with ten men in the 76th minute when Tiago was sent off the field, but Bayer failed to score another goal.
The second leg matches between the two pairs will take place on March 17.
Results:
"Arsenal" 1 - 3 "Monaco"
38' [0 - 1] G. Kondogbia
53' [0 - 2] D. Berbatov
90' [1 - 2] A. Oxlade-Chamberlain
90' [1 - 3] Y. Ferreira
"Bayer" 1 - 0 "Atletico"
57' [1 - 0] H. Calhanoglu
77' Tiago ("Atletico") sent off the field
