Diego Simeone has utterly revolutionised Atletico Madrid, from the
capital's second club to one of the powerhouses of European football.
Javier Soriano / AFPAtletico Madrid play in only their second European Cup semi-final since 1974 on Wednesday night. In 2014, they eliminated Chelsea to play Real Madrid in the final. There could be a repeat final of the two
Madrid giants this year, but first Atletico, who have never won the European Cup, have to overcome five-time winners Bayern Munich.
Diego Simeone’s side have every reason to be vengeful for it was Bayern who defeated them in the 1974 final in circumstances which are still tough for older Atletico fans to recall.
In a game played in the Heysel Stadium, Brussels, the final was 0-0 after 90 minutes before Luis Aragones scored in extra time. Atletico were about to be European champions until Bayern defender Georg Schwarzenbeck hit a speculative long-range shot in the 120th minute. It went in and forced a replay two days later — the only replay in European Cup final history.
Bayern won 4-0 with two goals each from Gerd Muller and Uli Hoeness to lift the first of their five European Cups. It was a cruel end to an incredible season, just as it was when Real Madrid beat them after extra time in the 2014 final.
In 1974, it was Bayern’s beauty against the beast of Atletico. The same could be said of now. Simeone has utterly revolutionised Atletico and made them into a world power. They are very hard to beat, and sit level on points in the league with Barcelona, who they eliminated from the Champions League in the last 16.
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They win, often narrowly and not without controversy as in Sunday’s 1-0 win, when Simeone was sent to the stands after a ball was kicked onto the pitch from the Atletico bench and disrupted a Malaga attack. It was the 22nd clean sheet kept by goalkeeper Jan Oblak this season, more than any other goalkeeper in Atleti’s history.
Pep Guardiola’s Bayern side are wealthier and more successful than Atletico, yet the statistics don’t favour them in Spain. Atletico are unbeaten in their last five home games against German clubs and have lost only one of their last seven against them.
The Bavarians lost against Spanish opponents at this stage in each of the last two seasons and have only won two of their last nine Uefa Champions League away games, losing four. They have also failed to win in any of their previous seven knockout games away from home, drawing four and losing three.
Bayern have four Spaniards in their squad in Javi Martinez, Thiago Alcantara, Juan Bernat and Xabi Alonso, plus a Spanish manager in Guardiola. Bayern have played in 17 European Cup semi finals, winning 10.
This is Atletico’s fifth semi-final, of which they have won two. They will be able to recall Fernando Torres, who scored the vital away goal in Camp Nou in the last round before being sent off.
Torres is in form, and Saturday was the first time he had not scored in five matches. His form is mirrored by his team who have won their last five games since that narrow defeat at Camp Nou.
They have also not conceded a goal in their last four and have the outstanding Uruguayan central defender Jose Gimenez back from injury. He is needed, for Diego Godin will be absent with a hamstring injury. Tiago is Atletico’s only other absentee while Bayern are missing Holger Badstuber and Arjen Robben, and have George Boateng and Sebastian Rode as doubts.
CREDIT TO:http://www.thenational.ae/sport/champions-league/la-liga-in-focus-atletico-madrid-in-a-great-position-to-avenge-1974-bayern-munich-defeat
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