Leverkusen to use defeat to Atletico as experience for next games

Bayern Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso hopes that the late 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday can serve as a lesson for the upcoming matches.

Piero Hincapie cancelled out Julian Alvarez's opener for Atletico, but the Spanish side had the final word when Alvarez completed his brace in stoppage time.

"We were very solid up to half-time. Then Atletico increasingly came back into the game and we were scarcely able to create any positive moments," Alonso said after the game.

"Today's match was decided at an emotional level. I'm sure we can use this experience in the coming games," he added.

Defender Jonathan Tah said that the players have to "learn to keep a cool head in games like that."

"We let ourselves be drawn into it," he said.

Leverkusen have already secured at least a spot in the play-offs for the knock-out stages and still have chances of qualifying directly for the last 16.

Their final match in the league phase is against Sparta Prague next Wednesday. But before that, they have a Bundesliga game at RB Leipzig on Saturday.

The Bundesliga defending champions trail leaders Bayern Munich by four points.

On Wednesday morning, Leverkusen trained at Real Madrid before their trip back to Germany.