Atlético Madrid Stuns Liverpool as Coronavirus Pierces Champions League

On Soccer Two goals by Marcos Llorente made for another dramatic night in Europe’s top club competition, but news of an infected Juventus player threatened the tournament. LIVERPOOL, England — Diego Simeone raced down the side of the field, hurtling toward Atlético Madrid’s delirious fans. Álvaro Morata knelt in front of them, a picture of stillness, arms aloft. He looked out on a crashing, bounding sea of bodies, a whole section of the stands transformed into a single, writhing mass.

Substitutes and coaches and sundry staff members poured from the bench. Players embraced. Marcos Llorente, who had done more than almost anyone else to make this moment real, slid by on his back. The grass was wet, after all: It was probably the quickest way to join the celebrations.

Scenes like these have become the Champions League’s calling card, every spring: intense, engrossing games, games that seem to twist and turn and defy prediction, hour upon hour of live-action, cliffhanger drama, denouements that quicken the pulse and draw the breath. These are what makes it soccer’s greatest stage, its richest, most compelling competition. By the time those celebrations had started to dwindle, though, another story was emerging, one that dwarfs Atlético’s victory and Liverpool’s defeat, one that calls into question whether this might, perhaps, be the last of the Champions League we see for some time. Anfield, on Wednesday night, more than fulfilled its mandate.

Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, had warned Simeone and his team that — while it might have frustrated the reigning champion in Madrid three weeks ago — it had not yet faced the ace in Liverpool’s pack: its stadium, its own turf, the place where Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City and Barcelona had all melted away in recent years. For 97 minutes, Klopp’s prediction seemed like it would be fulfilled. Liverpool pummeled its visitor. Georginio Wijnaldum, just before halftime, canceled out Atlético’s lead; only the dexterity of Jan Oblak, Atlético’s goalkeeper, some wayward finishing and a healthy dose of luck took the game into extra time.

Within four minutes, though, Atlético’s resistance had been broken again: Wijnaldum crossing for Roberto Firmino, this time, to tap Liverpool ahead at the second time of asking. This is the sort of story Anfield has grown used to in recent years, of course: the nerves, the drama and then, at the end, a hero to acclaim and a victory to celebrate. Klopp had never lost a knockout tie as Liverpool manager; his team had reached the final in the last three European competitions it had contested. Liverpool should know by now, though, that the Champions League does not do straightforward.