On Tuesday evening in Germany, the return UEFA Champions League semi-final match took place. Fans were not disappointed - the teams demonstrated excellent football and after a dramatic 90-minute battle, the Spanish capital club made it to the final for the third time in history.
At the "Allianz" stadium in Munich, "Bayern" tried to make a comeback against local "Atletico" after losing in Madrid. Pep Guardiola's players started the first half powerfully, but Diego Simeone's army managed to recover after the break and score the decisive goal. "Bayern" celebrated a victory with a score of 2-1, but "Rojiblancos" advanced to the final due to an away goal.
The match started without any hesitation. The 2013 Champions League winners began to dominate possession and create dangerous attacks towards the "Atletico" goal one after another. Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller had several opportunities to score, but the attacking duo couldn't finish the attack by sending the ball into the net.
In the 31st minute, a mistake was made by "Atletico" near the penalty area line. Xabi Alonso, standing over the ball, remembered his best times and after a free-kick, led the Bavarians forward. The lead for "Bayern" didn't disappear and after the first goal, their attacks towards the "Atletico" penalty area became even more active.
Already in the 34th minute, the Bavarians could deliver a decisive blow in this match, as Jose Gimenez committed a foul in the penalty area. T. Muller stood at the 11-meter mark and took a strong shot towards the left side of the goal, but the amazing Jan Oblak repelled the German's shot and left the intrigue in this match.
In the second half, "Atletico" started to show their game when D. Simeone decided to replace defensive midfielder Augusto Fernandez with Yannick Ferreira Carrasco. The visitors from the capital organized a quick counter-attack in the 54th minute after a pass from Fernando Torres, Antoine Griezmann sprinted towards Manuel Neuer's unguarded opponents.
Griezmann's sprint ended with an equalizing goal for "Atletico". The Bavarians suffered a painful blow, as P. Guardiola's players needed at least two goals to reach the final. "Atletico" started to play a more defensive style after the goal.
David Alaba struck dangerous shots several times. However, in the 74th minute, R. Lewandowski scored a goal with his head after a pass from Arturo Vidal and brought back the intrigue. The Munich team pressed their opponents, but in the 84th minute, they could have been severely burned by a mistake from the Turkish referee.
F. Torres broke away from the defenders and rushed towards the penalty area, but in an attempt to shoot the ball from the back, he was brought down by Javi Martinez. C. Cakir did not hesitate and awarded a penalty, although a video replay could confirm that F. Torres was fouled outside the penalty area. However, the football gods corrected the referee's mistake and the Spaniard himself did not convert the penalty kick.
The Bavarians, after Neuer's saved penalty, had a chance to advance to the final, but despite numerous attempts, they failed to defeat J. Oblak. The final result was 2-2, but due to the away goal scored by the visitors and the goal not conceded at home, the Madrid team progressed.
"Atletico" will find out their opponent in the Champions League final on Wednesday, when Madrid's "Real" will face "Manchester City" at the "Santiago Bernabeu" stadium.
Result:
"Bayern" 2 - 1 "Atletico"
(First leg: 0-1, final result: 2-2)
31st' [1 - 0] X. Alonso
54th' [1 - 1] A. Griezmann
34th' T. Muller ("Bayern") missed 11 m. penalty
84th' F. Torres ("Atletico") missed 11 m. penalty
Starting line-ups:
"Bayern": Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, Javi Martinez, Alaba, Xabi Alonso, Vidal, Ribery, Douglas Costa, Muller, Lewandowski.
Substitutes: Ulreich, Tasci, Thiago, Rafinha, Götze, Coman, Kimmich.
"Atletico": Oblak, Juanfran, Godín, Giménez, Filipe Luís, Gabi, Fernández, Koke, Saúl Ñíguez, Griezmann, Torres.
Substitutes: Moya, Savič, Fernandez, Correa, Carrasco, Thomas, Vietto.
