Bayern kept it bowling and bounced back through Lewandowski, who nodded home Arturo Vidal’s header, to spark hopes after making it 2-1 on the scoreboard with 16 minutes from time.
Advertisement
Atletico Madrid players celebrate qualifying for the final after the UEFA Champions League semi-final, second-leg football match between FC Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in Munich, southern Germany.
His Barcelona side were beaten in the final four of the 2011/12 tournament, and have now failed at the semi-final stage in each of Guardiola’s three years as Bayern Munich manager.
Frenchman Antoine Griezmann netted in the 54th minute from a Torres layoff to cancel out Xabi Alonso’s first-half opener and force Bayern to look for at least two more goals.
Thomas Muller missed a spot-kick for the hosts before Fernando Torres did likewise for Atletico and Simeone said: “A missed penalty always implies several things”.
The match was tense all night long, with on-the-pitch squabbles and even on the bench, with Atletico Madrid Coach Diego Simeonefrequently animated on the touchline.
Asked about the row, Guardiola, who will join Manchester City next season, did not deny it had happened, saying that somebody within the club is trying to hurt him.
“We haven’t managed it, we’re sad, but we have to prepare for the league game at Ingolstadt”.
Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said the squad naturally regretted failing to reach the European final, especially in Guardiola’s swansong season.
“Whoever has spoken has done it to hit me”.
Bayern have won the league in each of the last three seasons with games to spare, but the destination of this season’s title has not been decided so late in the season since 2009/10. “It was hard, a tough game with a great team and we had to defend to try to get where we are going”. “I knew that sooner or later we could lose”.
“We are a bit lost for words”, said Neuer.
He told the club’s official website: “Football can be extreme at times. I’m focused on the game ahead”.
“We did a lot right and only a few things wrong, unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Of course I’m disappointed because I didn’t score from the penalty”. “We need to keep grounded and first of all think of the Liga before the final”, said Griezmann, whose side are level on points with leaders Barcelona in the Spanish title race.
Advertisement
“To go out like that hurts”.
