Atlético Madrid were in command of this quarter-final tie until substitute Sébastien Haller struck to get Borussia Dortmund back in it.
Mats Hummels was making his 500th appearance for Dortmund in Madrid but he and his backline found the opening stages of the game incredibly difficult as the Spanish side pressed high and aggressively.
It was that tenacity in the press and a huge Dortmund error that led to the opener after just four minutes. Gregor Kobel took his time passing out from his area giving the ball to Ian Maatsen who was immediately under pressure.
The on-loan Chelsea man attempted a blind pass with the outside of the boot that proved to be a gift for Rodrigo de Paul who was able to snatch the ball and put in the net.
It wasn't until the end of the first period that Dortmund seemed to wake up. Jadon Sancho was bright whenever he had the ball and Maatsen had a long-range effort that gave Jan Oblak something to do.
Diego Simeone's side were less aggressive in the second half, allowing Dortmund to keep the ball at the back as they enjoyed a two-goal lead.
It should have been a three-goal lead in the 75th minute when a Griezmann free-kick was floated to the far post where Lino looked certain to score but Kobel was able to make a fine stop.
That goal could potentially have killed off the tie but just six minutes later Dortmund were back in it when out of nowhere substitute Sébastien Haller was able to bury his effort and suddenly bring the tie back to life.
English teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens was another Dortmund substitute who made a big difference for his side, with the former Manchester City and Reading youth team player have an effort deflect off of César Azpilicueta and then off the bar.
The Atlético Madrid crossbar then had what was virtually the last touch of the game when a cross from the right found Julian Brandt unmarked in the area but his header only found the woodwork.
For Simeone, this will be a disappointing end of the game that had started so well for Atleti. Dortmund though showed courage to get back into that game and that Haller goal could prove vital going into the second leg in Germany.
2-1 | ||
Rodrigo de Paul 4' Samuel Lino 32' | Sébastien Haller 81' |