Saúl scored in a hard-fought victory
Great match by Atlético de Madrid against Bayern in which a goal by Saúl decided the first leg of the semi-final. Next Tuesday, in Munich, the second leg.
Atlético de Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Giménez, Savic, Filipe Luis; Saúl (Thomas, 84’), Gabi, Augusto Fernández, Koke; Griezmann, and Fernando Torres.
Bayern Munich: Neuer; Lahm, Javi Martínez, Alaba, Bernat; Thiago (Müller, 70’), Xabi Alonso, Vidal; Douglas Costa, Coman (Ribery, 64’), and Lewandowski.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England). Booked the home player Saúl (84’); and the visiting Douglas Costa (40’), Benatia (82’), Neuer (82’), and Vidal (88’).
THE GOAL:
1-0. 11’. Saúl, on a personal play, dribbles three rivals and scores the goal next to the right post of Neuer’s goal.
Atlético de Madrid took the field of the Vicente Calderón with very clear ideas. We began strong, with a rival pressuring in all the spaces and very active whenever they had the ball. Supported by a Saúl in a state of grace, who played an excellent first half, the team was able to get ahead very soon. It was precisely Saúl who started a slalom, getting rid of three rivals to score the goal next to Neuer’s right post.
Our players felt comfortable and kept their strength for key moments, like the one half an our in when Griezmann almost scored the second but the German goalkeeper had to intervene to deflect a corner. And, finishing the first half, Javi Martínez deflected to the corner a shot from Koke.
In the second half, Bayern went straight for the tie and had chances to have it, but the shot from Alaba crashed on the crossbar and Oblak saved a header from Javi Martínez. The German team had the ball but Atlético was in its element, defending as ever and hoping to catch the rival wrong-footed. And he did it with a quarter of an hour to go, but Torres’ finish went to the post and Neuer stopped the subsequent shot from Koke. In the end, important triumph by 1-0 with their sights set on Munich next Tuesday.
