Atletico Madrid will travel to the Allianz Arena confident of reaching their second UEFA Champions League final in three years after an impressive 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the semi-final first leg on Wednesday.
Earlier in the evening, the Vicente Calderon stadium welcomed the two teams ahead of a fascinating contest:
""I love you" the Calderon tells its team pic.twitter.com/hMf1v4HjI7
— Dermot Corrigan (@dermotmcorrigan) April 27, 2016"
Pep Guardiola provided the first surprise of the contest when he left Thomas Muller on the bench for the visitors:
"That feeling when you see Thomas Müller is starting on Bayern Munich’s bench. pic.twitter.com/sU0rUnTZz8
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 27, 2016"
"Muller's exclusion is odd but I suppose when you're playing Atleti it's not worth having a raumdeuter when there isn't much raum to deuter.
— TT (@flyingwingback) April 27, 2016"
"Eight central midfielders on the pitch, though they won't all be playing there (Koke, Saul, Augusto, Gabi, Alonso, Vidal, Thiago, Martinez)
— Rik Sharma (@riksharma_) April 27, 2016"
"Pep starting Coman wise. Needs natural width to get around Atletico. Classic Pep move.
— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) April 27, 2016"
Atletico started the brighter and took the lead after 11 minutes through a superb Saul Niguez solo goal:
"Saul beats Alonso, Thiago and Bernat before clanging in off the inside of the far post. Wow
— Clark Whitney (@Mr_Bundesliga) April 27, 2016"
"Atletico’s pre-game viewing. pic.twitter.com/0SRYl6tmOZ
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 27, 2016"
"Better call Saul #AtletiBayern pic.twitter.com/98aAkKlrBu
— amar singh (@amarjourno) April 27, 2016"
"Need a goal Atletico? Better Call Saul pic.twitter.com/Bt0HRnqCbc
— Unibet (@unibet) April 27, 2016"
"Looks like Someone Called Saul (ahem).
— Kambi Thandi (@chikayne) April 27, 2016"
"Saul Niguez completed 3 take-ons in the move leading up to his goal:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 27, 2016"
Juan Bernat ✔
Xabi Alonso ✔
Thiago ✔ pic.twitter.com/rX50e2R12B
"Lovely old job Atleti. Sit and defend now all the way to the final. Glorious happenings.
— Marcus Speller (@MarcusSpeller) April 27, 2016"
"12 minutes of this game better than all 90 of yesterday's.
— Rik Sharma (@riksharma_) April 27, 2016"
Bayern pushed for an equaliser in the second half and came close when David Alaba rattled the crossbar with a stunning long-range effort:
"What a strike.
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 27, 2016"
"Alacrossba
— ⚽442oons⚽ (@442oons) April 27, 2016"
"Alabar #sorry
— Unibet (@unibet) April 27, 2016"
"—David Alaba hits the bar from 40 yards
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 27, 2016"
—Javi Martinez’s free header saved on the line
State of Atletico. pic.twitter.com/KGj96qDq0M
Guardiola turned to his substitutes' bench in search of an all-important away goal:
"⌚️ It’s time 🍻 pic.twitter.com/ijYhH2lsJP
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 27, 2016"
"Here comes Thomas Muller...https://t.co/1T6U5PRCZT
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) April 27, 2016"
The home side came close to doubling their lead when Fernando Torres hit the post:
"Griezmann leads the break, slips to Torres who beats his man, but his shot comes back off the cruel, poetry-denying upright.
— AS English (@English_AS) April 27, 2016"
"The whole stadium when Torres hit the post...#AtletiBayern pic.twitter.com/QXrfL28zFX
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) April 27, 2016"
The 90 minutes concluded with the score 1-0, a result that leaves Bayern with work to do when the tie resumes in Germany on May 3:
"Say Atletico’s name. ⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/NL2al4AUTK
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 27, 2016"
"Such intensity and organisation from Atletico. And an inspired goal on top. Deservedly ahead. #AtletiBayern
— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) April 27, 2016"
"Atletico Madrid have now kept 14 clean sheets in their last 17 home Champions League matches. Incredible. Simeone is a genius. #AtletiFCB
— Max Bentley (@MaxBentley1) April 27, 2016"
"Bayern immense at home, so this tie is far from over. Great second leg ahead!
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) April 27, 2016"
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