Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said he was happy his team "escaped alive" in the tie after a hugely impressive Bayer Leverkusen beat last year's finalists 1-0 in Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg.
Roger Schmidt's fast running and hard-working Leverkusen side dominated the proceedings for long periods, although the game's only goal came from midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu's superb strike early in the second half.
Atletico lost both Guilherme Siqueira and Saul Niguez through injuries in the first half, and played out the last 15 minutes with 10 men after midfielder Tiago was sent off for a second yellow card, but still might have had an undeserved equaliser late on when substitute Fernando Torres' effort was ruled out.
The Atletico coach told reporters after the game at the BayArena that considering how many things had gone against his side, he would take the 1-0 result.
"I am leaving happy," Simeone said. "We had to make two changes in the first half, and had one player less for 20 minutes. There was also a strange goal disallowed. And we only lost 1-0. It could have been worse. I have the sensation that we have escaped alive, because they could have pressed for it more."
Simeone admitted that the fired-up Leverkusen side had been one of the few opponents to play with more aggression and intensity during his time in charge, while playing down a first-half touchline confrontation when Bayer boss Schmidt argued toe-to-toe with the Argentine and Atletico assistant coach German Burgos.
"They pressed very well," he said. "They win the ball back quickly and we could not keep it. They have a very similar style to our own, pressing to win the ball back when they lose it. They won the second balls. They are an intense team. We like that. I went to defend Burgos (in the incident with Schmidt) because he is my friend. "
Simeone claimed that despite being under pressure in the game, Atletico had actually managed to create about the same number of clear chances as their opponents, and he did not know who decided to rule the ball had been out of play before Torres tapped into an empty net late on.
"It was a strange game, neither of the two teams created many chances," he said. "We had ours at the end of the first half, we did not take it, and when they had their's they scored. I thought Torres would get a chance, like he had. I do not know who made the call -- if it was the fourth official, the fifth, the third ..."
There was no immediate update on the physical condition of replaced players Siqueira and Saul, but Simeone said he was confident that the suspended Tiago and Diego Godin could be successfully covered for the second leg at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on March 17.
"I did not have time to speak with the doctor," he said. "And the absences will be covered by players who have been training. A team can win a game, but a group is needed to win important things. There is no problem, [Jose Maria] Gimenez and Mario [Suarez] will play."