The Europa League returned to the Vicente Calderon stadium where defending champions looked to defend their crown. Rubin Kazan came full of confidence and in the worlds of their manager, Kurban Berdyev they saw themselves as favorites. Even so, not in the best of their dreams could the Russian side have imagined this result.

Barely four minutes on the clock when to opening shock came, a deflected shot from Rondon fell to Karadeniz who sent the ball into the net to give the visitors the lead. After converting their first attempt on target, the team simply defend and try to keep Atletico at bay.

With an early lead to defend the Russians deployed two lined closely packed together to try to deny Atletico space. This tactis limited the chances for Simeone’s men and it wasn’t’ until the 30th minute when Cristian Rodriguez and Arda tried their chances from distance but without causing any real danger.

The rest of the half saw Atletico hungrily searching for a goal, but keeper Ryzhikov was proving difficult to beat. Falcao, who returned to the Europa League after the final in Bucharest, looked to have got his team back in to the games as he drew the second yellow card for Sharonov leaving his team with one less one minute before halftime.

After the break Berdyev rearranged his side, sending everyone to defend their lead and the game was tight until the first chance of the second half came. Cristian Rodriguez tried his luck from outside the area.

Koke, Raul Garcia and Saul came on to freshen things up but the Rubin defense could not be breached with the wall of 4 and then a wall of 5. The Atletico unbeaten home record was threatened and with it more than two years of victory in European completion.

The Russians a goal up and a man down where waiting for the final whistle but in the dyign stages, Orbaiz was sent through on goal and he made no mistake in doubling the advantage. Rubin finished with a 2 goal lead to take in to the second leg, leaving a very difficult task at hand if Atletico are to turn the tie around.

Atlético de Madrid 0 - 2 Rubin Kazan

Atlético de Madrid: Asenjo; Juanfran, Cata Díaz (Raúl García, 60´), Godín, Filipe (Saúl, 65´); Mario (Koke, 46´), Tiago; Cristian Rodríguez, Arda; Adrián & Falcao

Rubin Kazan: Ryzhikov; Ansaldi, Sharonov, César Navas, Marcano; Orbaiz, Natcho; Kislyak, Eremenko, Karadeniz (Kuzmin, 87´) & Rondón (Dyadyun, 85´)

Goals:

0-1: Min.3: Karadeniz
0-2: Min.94: Orbaiz