Atletico Madrid’s Champions League hopes hang by a thread after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Group C Qarabag on Tuesday. Spanish player Míchel broke the deadlock on the first half and Thomas Partey equalised with a long-range shoot. Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the second half.

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. But they also had their own defender Stefan Savic sent off for a second booking in the 88th minute.

Atletico, Champions League runners up in 2014 and 2016 and semi-finalists last season, are third in Group C on three points, five behind leaders AS Roma and four behind Chelsea.

Even if they beat Roma and Chelsea in their final two games, they will still need either the Italian side or Premier League champions to drop points against Qarabag.


- Match stats:

Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godín, Filipe Luis; Correa, Thomas (Nico Gaitán, 62’), Gabi, Saúl; Griezmann, Gameiro (Fernando Torres, 69’).

Qarabag: Sehic; Medvedev, Rzezniczak, Sadygov, Agolli; Richard Almeida, Garayev; Henrique, Míchel (Ismayilov, 92’), Guerrier (Yunuszada, 63’); Sheydaev (Dani Quintana, 72’).

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany). Henrique sent-off (59’). Bookings to Savic (32’ - 88’), Fernando Torres (75’); Sadygov (9’), Rzezniczak (34’).

Goles:

0-1 (40’) Míchel.
1-1 (56’) Thomas.