Madrid (AFP) – Benfica inflicted Atletico Madrid’s first home defeat in the Champions League since 2009 as they came from behind to move top of Group C with a 2-1 win on Wednesday. However, the Portuguese champions’ victory was overshadowed by the behavior of some of their traveling fans, who threw flares at Atletico supporters after Nicolas Gaitan’s equalizing goal.

Angel Correa had fired the hosts into a deserved lead midway through the first half. However, Atletico were made to pay for a series of missed chances as Gaitan leveled, and Benfica snatched all three points with a brilliantly executed counter attack finished off by Goncalo Guedes just after the break.

Benfica now lead Atletico by three points, although the Spaniards remain two points clear of Champions League newcomers Astana and Galatasaray, who drew 2-2 in Kazakhstan earlier on Wednesday.

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Atletico produced their most impressive opening 45 minutes of the campaign, but their profligacy in front of goal proved their downfall as they failed to kill the game off.

The hosts had a strong appeal for a penalty waved away early on when Tiago’s well-struck shot appeared to hit Andre Almeida on the hand.

A rare mistake by former Benfica goalkeeper Jan Oblak nearly handed his former side the opener moments later as he was beaten to the ball by Guedes as he rushed from his line, but Filipe Luis got back in time to clear off the line.

Former Porto striker Jackson Martinez then had his first sight of goal as he hooked the ball over the bar from Gabi’s fine cross.

Atletico went in front on 22 minutes thanks to a great team move started and finished by Correa as he blasted home Antoine Griezmann’s cute layoff.

Diego Simeone’s men should have been out of sight by half-time as Martinez headed against the bar and then Correa fired over with an open goal after Julio Cesar had smothered another Martinez effort. However, Benfica turned the game on its head nine minutes before the break when Nelson Semedo’s cross was only cleared as far as Gaitan, and the long-time Atletico transfer target showed why he is a man in demand with a brilliant left-footed finish into the far corner.

The goal sparked angry scenes on and off the field as Benfica fans hurled flares onto the Atletico fans sitting in the tier below them. The game was quickly restarted by Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi, but the Portuguese club are likely to face further action from UEFA.

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That goal was the first Atletico had conceded at the Calderon in seven Champions League games stretching back to March 2014. And they were caught out again just six minutes into the second half by a blistering Benfica counter attack as Gaitan picked out a Guedes run at the back post and he squeezed a shot past Oblak from a narrow angle.

The final 35 minutes were played almost exclusively in the Benfica half as Atletico attempted to prevent a first home defeat in the Champions League under Simeone. However, they were denied by a stunning double save from former Brazilian international Cesar as he somehow parried Tiago’s deflected effort and got back on his feet to turn Correa’s follow-up.