Atletico Madrid 1 - 0 Bayern Munich
29.05.2020 08:39
Saul Niguez's sublime solo goal put Atletico Madrid in control of their Champions League semi-final against German giants Bayern Munich.
Niguez jinked past a clutch of Bayern defenders before curling into the corner, giving the home side a narrow first-leg lead to take to Germany.
Bayern dominated the second half, David Alaba hitting the bar from 35 yards and Arturo Vidal's strike forcing a save.
Fernando Torres poked against the post in a rare counter as Atletico held on.
The teams will meet at Bayern's Allianz Arena on Tuesday to decide who will meet Manchester City or Real Madrid in the final on 28 May.
Better call Saul
Atletico - for so many years in the shadow of illustrious neighbours Real Madrid - have never been crowned European champions, twice losing in the final of the continent's leading club competition.
Under coach Diego Simeone, Los Rojiblancos have emerged as serious challengers to Spain's regular duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid and have now put themselves in a decent position to create history by winning the Champions League.
With Bayern boasting a remarkable home record of only one defeat in 24 matches, the tie is far from over.
But Niguez - a Spain Under-21 international who has cemented his place in the Atletico side this season - extended the Spanish title-chasing side's own excellent form at a raucous Vicente Calderon.
The 21-year-old midfielder picked up the ball about 35 yards from goal, dancing through flimsy challenges from Bayern trio Thiago Alcantara, Juan Bernat and Xabi Alonso, then keeping his composure to steer the ball into the bottom corner.
Atletico defence blunts Bayern attack
Much of Atletico's success under Simeone has been built on defensive resilience, with his organised side conceding just five goals in this season's Champions League.
Atletico had also kept clean sheets in their previous four La Liga games but faced Bayern - the competition's top scorers with 28 goals in 10 matches - without defensive lynchpin Diego Godin.
However, the injured Uruguay centre-back, 30, was barely missed as a typically determined Atletico display shut out Bayern.
Former Argentina midfielder Simeone slightly altered his side's defensive tactics in the first half, occasionally pressing Bayern higher up the pitch, before reverting to their deep and compact shape after the break.
The German side, who are one win away from a fourth consecutive Bundesliga title, totally dominated in the second half as Alaba and Vidal went closest to equalising.
Home keeper Jan Oblak also blocked Javi Martinez's close-range header in-between, helping Atletico secure a 14th clean sheet in 16 Champions League home matches.
Uno, dos, tres - third time unlucky for Pep?
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola's three-year reign ends in the summer when he moves to Manchester City, with the Spaniard admitting his time in Germany will be judged on his ability to win the Champions League.
His side have lost to Spanish opposition at the semi-final stage in each of the past two seasons, knocked out by Real Madrid in 2014 and Guardiola's former club Barcelona last year.
Now the Catalan coach must outwit Simeone next week to avoid a clean sweep of defeats by La Liga's big three.
(BBC)
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