Atletico Madrid staged an incredible comeback to claim a dramatic Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen, despite being reduced to 10 men for 65 minutes.

 Former Manchester City forward Julián Álvarez scored twice, including a dramatic 90th-minute winner, to lift Atletico Madrid to third in the table.

The match seemed to be slipping away from the hosts after they were reduced to 10 men just 25 minutes in when Pablo Barrios’ sliding challenge caught Nordi Mukiele's leg. Italian referee Davide Massa, following a VAR review, consulted the pitchside monitor and showed Barrios a red card.

Leverkusen capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Piero Hincapié heading home from Mukiele's cross in first-half injury time, putting the Bundesliga side on course to move into second place in the Champions League standings.

However, the second half belonged to Atletico. Álvarez leveled the score in the 53rd minute, capping off a swift counter-attack by muscling past two defenders and calmly slotting past Matej Kovář.

The intensity at the Estadio Metropolitano grew, with Atletico and their manager Diego Simeone adamant that Florian Wirtz should have received a second yellow for a foul on Álvarez. The calls went unanswered, but Leverkusen soon unraveled, losing their composure.

Hincapié was sent off after picking up a second yellow for fouling Giuliano Simeone, reducing both sides to 10 players.

With the game hanging in the balance, Álvarez delivered a moment of brilliance, rounding Kovář in the final minute to seal an extraordinary victory and ignite wild celebrations in Madrid.

The result leaves Atletico third and Leverkusen sixth, with both teams fighting to secure a top-eight finish that guarantees a direct spot in the last 16, avoiding the play-offs.