Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich; UEFA Champions League Group D
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich. UEFA Champions League Group D.
Vicente CalderonAttendance48,242.
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich: Carrasco wins it for Simeone's side
Thursday 29 September 2016 13:28, UK
Atletico Madrid made it two wins out of two in Champions League Group D with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at home to Bayern Munich thanks to a winner in the first half from Yannick Carrasco.
Atletico took the lead at the Vicente Calderon as their pressure forced Thiago to give the ball away and Carrasco was set away. He kept his cool to fire the ball low into the corner with his left foot in the 35th minute, leaving Manuel Neuer with no chance.
It was Carrasco's second goal for Atletico in the Champions League, with the other coming against Real Madrid in last season's final. It could have been two in the end but Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty in the second half.
Fernando Torres was presented with a great opportunity to put his team ahead early on but he could only hit the woodwork when he was left unmarked at the back post from a corner. He also found himself one-on-one with Neuer but his shot went into the side netting.
Earlier on, Jan Oblak had to be aware to stop Thomas Muller after Thiago had played a delightful through ball to the Germany forward. Muller swivelled and volleyed well on the turn, but Oblak was alert to the threat and made a good reaction stop.
Atletico had started the game at a frenetic pace, closing Bayern at every opportunity and not giving them room to breathe. Griezmann and Torres were both crucial as they forced Jerome Boateng and Neuer to kick long rather than build up from the back.
Despite Oblak's early save the Atletico 'keeper wasn't troubled too regularly for the rest of the half, and any work he had to do was fairly routine as Robert Lewandowski in particular struggled to get into the game.
As the game drew on, Bayern started to see more and more of the ball but they also had fewer and fewer ideas. David Alaba and captain Philipp Lahm were both heavily involved but they could not provide that many opportunities for Lewandowski.
Griezmann had a chance to put the game to bed once and for all from the penalty spot when Arturo Vidal made a clumsy challenge on the impressive Filipe Luis.
However, the Frenchman was casual in his run-up and hammered the ball against the bar. It was the second penalty the France forward has missed for Atletico in three attempts in the Champions League.
Bayern manager Carlo Ancelotti wasn't afraid to make early changes in the second half, throwing on Mats Hummels, Arjen Robben and the in-form Joshua Kimmich, but nothing he did seemed to work.
Simeone was the conductor on the sidelines as he kicked every ball and fought for challenge. At one stage he was so close to being on the pitch that he was practically marking Franck Ribery.
The result means that Atletico have conceded just two goals at home all season and it is their 11th clean sheet in 13 games at home in the group stages of the Champions League.
They now top Group D, with Rostov and PSV playing out a 2-2 draw in Holland. Bayern are three points behind the group leaders and now face an uphill battle to top the group.