A stunning goal by Saul Ñiguez was all Atletico Madrid would need in a gritty 1-0 victory here Wednesday night over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal.
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However, while Guardiola was impressed with Niguez’s goal and ability, he warned against comparing the young Spaniard to the player many consider to be the best player in the world, ever.
“We had talked before the game about how Atletico tend to start well”, he told reporters at a press conference after the game. “He has left the game playing how we wanted”.
Douglas Costa poked the ball just over the bar from Philipp Lahm’s through ball with 20 minutes remaining, before Oblak was again at his best to beat away Vidal’s fierce drive from outside the area.
Guardiola left his joint-top scorer in Europe this season, Thomas Muller, on the bench in order to strengthen his midfield, and when asked he said he’d no regrets. “We hope he goes higher and higher with this team”.
Four decades after Schwarzenbeck robbed them of glory, Atletico are still chasing their first European Cup, yet are emboldened in their bid to go all the way this year after knocking out holders and favourites Barcelona in the quarter finals.
Guardiola’s team controlled possession, but were not able to break through the tight defense set up by Simeone. “We respect them but we never have fear”.
Bayern nearly hit back immediately, but Jose Gimenez was on hand to clear Arturo Vidal’s header off the line.
Torres’ strike partner Antoine Griezmann said: “We’re very happy with a win”.
“Their goal was brilliant, but it came from our mistake: we kept standing off him”.
Atletico also hadn’t created much when Niguez scored to ignite the crowd of more than 50,000 fans at the Calderon. The Slovenian goalkeeper survived a late onslaught in second-half stoppage time to preserve the clean sheet, sending Bayern to only their second loss of this Champions League campaign. He hit the ball with the outside of his right foot and the ball struck the post, it came out to Koke who forced a good save from a diving Manuel Neuer. City will be glad not to have conceded an away goal, and if they can grab the first goal in Madrid then who knows what might happen?
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Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid celebrates as he scores their first goal during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Bayern Muenchen at Vincente Calderon on April 27, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. Simeone’s team hasn’t lost at home in 10 straight games, winning eight.
