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Live Commentary: Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich



Good evening and welcome to Nigerianeye's live text coverage of the Champions League semi-final first leg between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon.


The hosts overcame tournament holders and favourites Barcelona in the last round courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate success and have won their last five games heading into tonight's match.

Bayern, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last 11 outings and are appearing in the semi-finals of the competition for the fifth year in a row after ousting Benfica.

You can ensure that you don't miss a moment of the action with our live minute-by-minute coverage below.


OFFICIAL LINE-UP

ATLETICO MADRID STARTING XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Gimenez, Savic, Filipe Luis; Gabi, Augusto, Koke, Saul; Griezmann, Torres

BAYERN MUNICH STARTING XI: Neuer; Lahm, Martinez, Alaba, Bernat; Alonso, Vidal, Thiago; Costa, Coman; Lewandowski
Subs: Ulreich, Tasci, Benatia, Ribery, Gotze, Muller, Kimmich





















That's it! A superb performance from Atletico as they take a first-leg lead to Munich. Saul Niguez's superb individual effort gives them the win. Thank you sticking with us through this coverage.



90+4 min FULL TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich

90+4 min CHANCE! An

90+3 min CHANCE! One late chance for Bayern as Ribery lifts a cross into the middle that Benatia gets to, but he can't get enough on his header to really test the keeper.

90 min There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match.

88 min YELLOW CARD! Vidal picks up a late yellow card which wastes a little bit more time for Atletico.

85 min ATLETICO MADRID SUB: Saul makes way to be replaced by Thomas Partey, knowing that his goal is currently the difference between the sides.

84 min YELLOW CARD! It looks as though Saul has also gone into the book here, presumably for time-wasting.

82 min YELLOW CARDS! It's all kicking off here! Bayern think the ball is out of play as Koke comes forward, and Benatia makes a silly challenge that allows the hosts to waste more time. The Bayern sub goes into the book for his challenge, while Neuer swiftly follows him for racing out of his goal to pick Koke up off the floor.

80 min SHOT! Another shooting chance from Alaba and Muller spins on the edge of the box and plays one across. Lewandowski leaves it for Alaba, but he cuts across it and sends it over the top.


STAT: Atletico have won only one of their last six Champions League games in the knockout stages (D3, L2), their last outing against Barcelona (2-0).


77 min BAYERN MUNICH SUB: The visitors make their third and final change as Mehdi Benatia replaces Bernat.

75 min OFF THE POST! Atletico are so close to a crucial second! They come forward on the break as Griezmann carries the ball forward right up the middle of the pitch before finding Torres. He cuts inside past Alaba before going for goal with the outside of his boot. He beats Neuer, but the ball comes back off the post. It then falls to Koke, who plants a tame effort into the arms of the keeper when he probably should have scored too.

74 min SAVE! Vidal drives a rocket of a shot towards the top corner, but Oblak flies to his right to make the save. It was a fine effort from Vidal, but Oblak got there comfortably.

73 min Atletico make a rare foray into the Bayern half and win a corner that is only cleared as far as Gabi. He hits a first-time volley that pings around in the box momentarily before Bayern bring it clear.

71 min CHANCE! Another chance for the visitors as Lahm sends a fine pass forward over the top for Costa down the right channel. Costa tries to lift one over Oblak with his left foot, but puts too much on it and it lands on the roof of the net.

70 min BAYERN MUNICH SUB: Another change for Bayern sees Thomas Muller finally introduced in place of Thiago.

68 min I'd expect a lot of stoppages in the final 20 minutes of this match. Atletico are going to milk every challenge for everything it is worth and Bayern need to keep their patience.

66 min This really is backs-to-the-wall stuff from Atletico at the moment, and it is a dangerous game to play with so long left in the game and the attacking talent at Bayern's disposal. Then again, no team is better at playing it than Atletico.

64 min BAYERN SUB: The visitors make their first change of the evening, and it isn't a bad player to be able to bring on as Franck Ribery replaces Coman.

64 min Bayern are getting closer... This time Lewandowski gets space in the box down the right channel after a lovely flick from Vidal, but his low ball into the middle goes all the way through to safety.

62 min Lewandowski is furious with Gimenez as the defenders throws himself to the group after again challenging the striker for the ball. There is nothing in it, though, and you can understand Lewandowski's anger at the Atletico man trying to feign injury and get him in the book.

61 min A few crosses arrive in the Atletico box in quick succession, with Coman getting space down the right and then Costa also whipping a dangerous ball into the middle. Atletico are just a yard or so off the intensity of the first half.

59 min Brilliant run from Coman as he skips past three Atletico players on his way into the box, but unlike Saul he goes to the byline rather than cutting inside and Gimenez makes an important block.

58 min The pressure is all coming from Bayern in this second half, and the visitors are getting more joy going forward too. Atletico need to wrestle back a bit more of the game here.

56 min CHANCE! Bayern have their best chance of the night, and it comes from a set piece. Costa swings a corner into the box and Martinez rises highest for a free header. It is a good, downward header, but too close to Oblak as he gets down well to make a fine save.

54 min OFF THE BAR! Oh my word, Alaba comes within inches of levelling things up in spectacular fashion! He is allowed to bring the ball out of defence and let fly from 30-35 yards, with his dipping effort beating Oblak all ends up. The keeper is saved by the woodwork, however, as the ball smashes off the crossbar. What an effort!

54 min OFF THE BAR! Oh my word, Alaba comes within inches of levelling things up in spectacular fashion! He is allowed to bring the ball out of defence and let fly from 30-35 yards, with his dipping effort beating Oblak all ends up. The keeper is saved by the woodwork, however, as the ball smashes off the crossbar. What an effort!

52 min Costa whips a decent ball into a good area, but he just doesn't get enough curl on it and it skips through to Oblak, whose handling has been faultless so far tonight.

50 min It will be interesting to see how both players approach this game as it wears on. A 1-0 scoreline obviously favours Atletico, but it is certainly not insurmountable for Bayern in the second leg so Atletico may feel they need another, while Bayern will still want an away goal themselves.

48 min It's been a better start to the second half from Bayern here. They finally have a bit of space as a ball from the left finds Vidal storming in at the back post, but he scuffs his cross back into the middle and Atletico clear fairly comfortably.

46 min KICKOFF: Atletico get us back underway for the second half here as they look to hold out for a first-leg advantage in this Champions League semi-final.


Mark Clattenburg brings an end to the first half at the Vicente Calderon, and the opening 45 minutes flew by in a hostile environment here. Atletico began the brighter and took the lead, but since then they have been happier to sit back and let Bayern see more of the ball. The visitors haven't been able to get into their usual rhythm, though, with the home side doing a good job of limiting their time on the ball.


45+1 min HALF TIME: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich

45+1 min There will be just one added minute of this first half.

44 min Almost a chance for Atletico as Saul whips a low ball in towards the near post that Koke gets a flick to. Martinez reacts in time to get his head to the ball and put it behind for a corner, though.

42 min There is an interesting battle brewing with Vidal and a few of the Atletico players. The Bayern midfielder's discipline can be a liability at times, but in this atmosphere they really need fighters like him.

40 min YELLOW CARD! The first card of the night finally arrives as Costa catches Saul on the back of the ankle from behind.

38 min Atletico are showcasing all of their gamesmanship at the moment, and it is working. They are spoiling Bayern's football and are masters of doing exactly that. Mark Clattenburg is in for a long evening!

36 min SHOT! Another shot from Bayern, but Oblak is again untested as Vidal curls a powerful strike well off target.

34 min Good chance for Bayern to create a chance as Coman bursts down the right flank, but opts to cut back instead of playing an early ball inside to Lewandowski. He does then manage to reach the byline and drive a low ball into the box, but Oblak is there to collect it.

32 min Another minor flash point as Alonso swings a good, quick, first-time cross into the box. Gimenez goes in bravely with his head while Lewandowski tries to volley it in, and that results in some rolling around from the defender, who got there first. He is not seriously hurt, though, and Mark Clattenburg again correctly refuses to entertain calls for a card.

30 min CHANCE! Chance for Atletico to double their lead! Again it is a long ball forward that causes problems, with Torres flicking it on to Griezmann. He advances into the area down the right channel, but Martinez puts pressure on and Neuer is able to make the save at his near post.

28 min Bayern want a penalty here as Lahm gets forward down the right flank and cuts inside to create space to shoot on his left foot. He curls one towards goal, but it hits a defender. Lahm claims for the handball, but Clattenburg says no.

27 min Atletico almost get through again here as the ball is booted straight up the middle of the pitch. Martinez fails to deal with it and Griezmann is interested, but he can't get it under his spell and eventually Bayern get it clear.

25 min CLOSE! Some of the crowd think Bayern have equalised here as Costa fools everyone that he is going to swing the ball into the box from a free kick. Instead he goes for goal from near the touchline and almost catches Oblak out, but it goes into the side-netting.

23 min Bayern have seen more of the ball since the opening goal as Atletico now have a lead to defend, but the hosts are still hounding the visitors everywhere. It is at the point where some of the Bayern players don't look anywhere near as comfortable on the ball as usual.

21 min Alonso gets a talking-to from Mark Clattenburg here for a late challenge on Filipe Luis. There is no card, which is the correct decision, although Alonso was very quick to apologise so might have felt that he was in a bit of trouble.

19 min A lot of teams can be guilty of respecting Bayern a bit too much and giving them too much time on the ball, but Atletico certainly aren't doing that tonight. Nothing is easy for the visitors here.

17 min SHOT! Better from Bayern as they are able string a few passes together on the way forward. It eventually comes back to Alaba, who strikes a powerful effort towards goal that flies comfortably wide.

15 min Guardiola has not been happy with his side in this opening 15 minutes, but Bayern have responded well to going behind and are just beginning to settle a little now.

13 min Oblak certainly isn't shy to come off his line! He comes racing out and just about beats Vidal to a cross, clattering into the midfielder in the process. He is back out again seconds later and once again just does enough.

12 min OFF THE LINE! Almost an immediate response for Bayern! They push for the equaliser straight away and it is the in-form Vidal who comes close. They get to the byline down the left flank and a cross finds Vidal in the middle. He loops it towards the far corner, but Gimenez flies in to nod it over his own crossbar.

11 min Atletico take the lead at the Vicente Calderon! They are such a good, organised team, but this is all about solo magic from Saul. He jinks in between three Bayern players with magnificent footwork before getting into the box, cutting inside past Alaba and then curling it in off the post. Superb goal.

11 min GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Bayern Munich (Saul Niguez)

10 min Bayern just haven't got themselves going in the early stages of this match. They may have been there and done it all as a club, but this atmosphere would be intimidating for anyone and it appears that they are struggling with it a little.

8 min SAVE! Neuer is called into action again here as Torres picks the ball up on the right flank and cuts inside. He is on the stretch when he gets his shot away, though, and his effort is rather tame in the end as Neuer collects.

6 min This has been a good, lively start from Atletico, which is only serving to stoke up the atmosphere inside the stadium. The hosts have seen plenty of the ball in these opening exchanges.

4 min Neuer is the first called into action tonight, but it is a routine one for a keeper of his quality as he comfortable collects Saul's long-range strike.

3 min There is a cracking atmosphere inside the Vicente Calderon tonight, as there always is. How will the Bayern players cope with it?

1 min KICKOFF: Here we go then! Bayern get us underway for the first leg of this Champions League semi-final! Who will draw first blood?

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