Griezmann scored the vital goal as Atletico ousted Bayern Munich on away goals on Tuesday to book their place in a second Champions League final in three years against Real Madrid in Milan on May 28. “I feel sorry for my players because they deserved the very best”.
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“We have a challenge and a new opportunity to try and do well”.
With just two games remaining, Atleti and Barca are locked on 85 points at the top of the Primera Division, with the Madrid side only behind on goal difference while their city rivals sit a point behind in third position.
Levante have only lost two of their last nine home games, the defeats coming against Barcelona and Real Madrid, providing a testing trip for the Champions League finalists in their quest for Primera Division success.
“Of course we want to win the German Cup, we also want to win the league, but it will not change my opinion of my time here by winning the cup”, Guardiola said.
“Yes, Atletico play destructive football but they knew exactly what they wanted and in this chess game Simeone made all the right moves”.
I am sorry for all the players.
As he is poised to complete a hat-trick of domestic title triumphs, Guardiola acknowledged that the German media will judge his time at Bayern, not on what he did win, but on what he didn’t – namely the Champions League, which was won under his immediate predecessor, Jupp Heynckes. They still have a chance to do a double with a win over Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal Final on the 21st.
Zidane has overseen a remarkable turnaround in Real’s fortunes in his four months in charge since replacing the sacked Rafael Benitez just to keep them in the fight for La Liga. Goal-scorer Robert Lewandowski admitted it was hard to bow out having won in Munich.
However, the latter run was broken when Alonso drilled his free-kick into the net in the 31st minute to level the tie on aggregate.
The fact that he was taking over the title-holders, combined with his past record, is why so much was expected of Guardiola at Bayern.
Gimenez was booked for conceding a penalty when he pulled down Javi Martinez in the area, but Oblak saved Mueller’s weak effort from 12 yards. “We were disoriented in the first half and we could not find our footing”, Torres said.
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In coach Pep Guardiola’s penultimate league game after three seasons in charge, Bayern set the tone with two goals in the first half, with Lewandowski opening the scoring from the penalty spot.
