Real Madrid needed a late winner from Marco Asensio and VAR’s debut in the Champions League to beat a spirited Ajax 2-1 in the first leg of the last 16 on Wednesday. Still, there was more than an hour to play and Ajax were twice too easily undone on the counter-attack. Gareth Bale was reinstated to the Madrid starting line-up but there was no place for Marcelo, who missed his first Champions League knock-out game in four years. Hero one minute, villain the next, Courtois then fumbled De Ligt’s header from the corner and Tagliafico headed in. Madrid wanted a free-kick for a foul on Lucas Vazquez in the build-up but this time the goal stood.

Source: The Guardian February 13, 2019 22:30 UTC