Premier League champions Leicester City left the Vicente Calderon stadium 1-0 down against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Antoine Griezmann’s penalty gave Atletico a thin victory on Wednesday, but the penalty was not without dispute. The striker was fouled by Marc Albrighton on the edge of the box and referee Jonas Eriksson deemed the action to have continued into the penalty area, and the French forward made no mistake.

However, Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare believed that his team undone by referee Jonas Eriksson. “I think we were hard done by,” said Shakespeare about the Griezmann penalty. “I think it is one of the major decisions in the game. It is a definite foul but it is outside the box.”

Leicester played a slower game, with only about 36% possession and Jamie Vardy completed just one pass, as they tried to contain the Spanish team. But Shakespeare was satisfied with his team’s performance and hopeful of the return leg. “We have a very good home record at the King Power. Our fans enjoy these Champions League night,” he said after the match.

Leicester were beaten 2-1 away at Sevilla in the first leg of their last-16 tie but managed to stage a comeback at home, with 2-0 victory in the second leg that gave them the tie 3-2 on aggregate.

“We need to create more chances. We need to attack more than we did tonight, but we are aware of what we have to do in the second leg.” Shakespeare said.

Simeone rues lack of killer instinct 

On the other hand, Atletico coach Diego Simeone credited Leicester’s defence, ruing his team’s inability to close the match with more goals.

“Maybe we lacked a clinical finish,” the Argentine said. “After the 1-0 Leicester defended very well, sat deep, waited for a counter-attack and we couldn’t create more chances.

“They bet everything on the second leg,” he said as he acknowledged that playing at the King Power would be tough. “In England we expect a fantastic football night,” he said.(We’re ready for) a great atmosphere and a stadium with the fans on top of you. We expect a pure football night.

“Leicester knew what they wanted (here) and didn’t change the way they played,” he added.