The Wanderers fully deserved their win and the advantage going into the second leg which will be played at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in a week from now.

It was a confident Bolton performance from the off and the home side could have taken the lead in the opening sixty seconds when Nicky Hunt's cross from the edge of the box was headed into the arms of Madrid goalkeeper Christian Abbiati by Matthew Taylor.

Taylor nearly got lucky again a few minutes later but the on-loan Italian Abbiati saved low down at his left hand post to deny the Wanderers midfielder.

On ten minutes the ex-Portsmouth and Luton Town favourite was involved again, this time with striker Kevin Davies having chested the ball into his path.

A foul by Bolton's El-Hadji Diouf on Simao Sambrosa lead to a slight mele between the two sides which saw Diouf and one time Arsenal forward Jose Antonio Reyes cautioned.

However, it has to be said the Diouf booking was slightly harsh as Simao had made a meal of it by rolling off the pitch and onto the track.

Reyes delivered the resulting free kick onto the head of defender Antonio Lopez and he looked to have given Madrid the lead only for Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to tip the ball over the crossbar at full stretch.

The Wanderers responded with Davies attempting a half volley on the turn in the 20th minute whilst Abbiati puched a Taylor shot clear.

On more than one occasion Abbiati came to punch the ball rather than make a clean catch and this is a flaw which Bolton could take advantage of in the second leg in Spain.

At the start of the second half Bolton came out of the starting blocks the quickest again and Taylor flashed in a shot from range in the 50th minute which just flew the wrong side of Abbiati's left post.

Ex-Manchester United striker Diego Forlan was rounded jeered throughout the game by the home support but the Uruguayan nearly silenced his critics only to see his well worked shot hit the side netting.

Both sides began to make changes in an attempt to freshen up the game. On came veteran Stelios Giannakopoulos for Bolton in place of the tiring Danny Guthrie whilst Madrid introduced danger man Sergio Aguero in place of Reyes.

Aguero blotted his copybook within ten minutes of coming onto the field with the Argentine commiting what can only be decribed as a vulgar act which has no place in the game.

The young forward appeared to spit towards the linesman running the line in front of the West Stand and Danish referee Peter Rasmussen had no option but to dismiss the South American.

This sending off inspired Bolton even further and the roof was lifted off the Reebok on 74 minutes when El-Hadji Diouf steamed in at the far post to give the Wanderers the lead after substitute Giannakopoulos had shown great determination down the right wing.

Wanderers showed good solidarity to protect their lead in the closing stages and the ten men of Madrid could not spoil what proved to be a memorable night for Bolton.

A week today Gary Megson's side must do it all again in the away leg but they will be overjoyed at having the advantage over one of the favourites in this competition.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Gary Cahill, Andy O'Brien, Jlloyd Samuel, Danny Guthrie (Stelios Giannakopoulos), Ivan Campo, Kevin Nolan, El-Hadji Diouf, Kevin Davies, Matthew Taylor

SUBS NOT USED: Abdoulaye Meite, Andranik Teimourian, Ricardo Vaz-Te, Joey O'Brien, James Sinclair, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

ATLETICO MADRID: Christian Abbiati, Mariano Pernia, Pablo Ibanez, Luis Perea, Antonio Lopez, Jose Antonio Reyes (Sergio Aguero), Simao Sabrosa (Jose Jurado), Cleber Santana, Maxi Rodriguez, Diego Forlan, Mista (Miguel)

SUBS NOT USED: Fabiano, Alejandro Rodriguez, Alvaro Dominguez, Salcon (GK)

ATTENDANCE:

26,163

REFEREE:

Peter Rasmussen (Denmark)

BOOKED:

Diouf (Bolton)

Reyes (Atletico)

Santana (Atletico)

SENT OFF:

Aguero (Atletico)

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