Fernando Torres believes that Atletico Madrid‘s place in the Champions League final is “fully deserved”, as they overcame Bayern Munich in a thrilling semi-final on Tuesday.
Bayern started the second leg trailing 1-0 on aggregate, having lost at the Vicente Calderon last week. Pep Guardiola deployed what his best team at the Allianz Arena, looking to overturn the deficit, and within half-an-hour they did just that.
Xabi Alonso levelled the tie on aggregate thanks to a deflected free-kick, and moments later Bayern earned a penalty following a foul by Jose Gimenez in the box. Thomas Muller stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Jan Oblak guessed correctly and produced an excellent save to keep the score on the night at 1-0.
Atletico made Guardiola’s men pay in the second half, as Antoine Griezmann expertly finished off a devastating counter-attack to give the Spaniards a valuable away goal. Robert Lewandowski set up a grandstand finish in the final 15 minutes with a goal of his own, while Torres then missed a penalty himself to wrap the game up.
Bayern started the second leg trailing 1-0 on aggregate, having lost at the Vicente Calderon last week. Pep Guardiola deployed what his best team at the Allianz Arena, looking to overturn the deficit, and within half-an-hour they did just that.
Xabi Alonso levelled the tie on aggregate thanks to a deflected free-kick, and moments later Bayern earned a penalty following a foul by Jose Gimenez in the box. Thomas Muller stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Jan Oblak guessed correctly and produced an excellent save to keep the score on the night at 1-0.
Atletico made Guardiola’s men pay in the second half, as Antoine Griezmann expertly finished off a devastating counter-attack to give the Spaniards a valuable away goal. Robert Lewandowski set up a grandstand finish in the final 15 minutes with a goal of his own, while Torres then missed a penalty himself to wrap the game up.
Player ratings: Bayern Munich 2-1 Atletico Madrid (2-2 aggregate)
In the end it didn’t prove costly
though, as Diego Simeone’s men reached their second Champions League
final in three years, taking on Real Madrid at the San Siro later this
month, and the 32-year-old striker believes it’s richly deserved.
“It was very intense,” Torres told BT Sport immediately after the game.
“We are so proud of this team, it is fully deserved. We’ve beaten some of the best teams in Europe, now we’re one step closer to the dream we all have.
“Sometimes when you play against a super team like Bayern you can’t play the way you want, they play so quick, they had control in the first half and we suffered a lot, but in the second half we wanted to do the opposite, to have counter-attacks and press high. In the end we got the goal.”
“It was very intense,” Torres told BT Sport immediately after the game.
“We are so proud of this team, it is fully deserved. We’ve beaten some of the best teams in Europe, now we’re one step closer to the dream we all have.
“Sometimes when you play against a super team like Bayern you can’t play the way you want, they play so quick, they had control in the first half and we suffered a lot, but in the second half we wanted to do the opposite, to have counter-attacks and press high. In the end we got the goal.”
Fernando Torres has won 40% of his headed duels in La Liga this season.
As for Torres, he’s had an excellent
campaign under Simeone, scoring nine goals and creating 19 chances in La Liga, whilst registering one crucial goal in the Champions League –
away to Barcelona.
The former Liverpool hitman has played in 11/12 European fixtures this term, missing the other through suspension.
Atletico are still well in the hunt for the Liga title too, sitting level on points with leaders Barcelona, so will be targeting an incredible double before the end of the season. Next up for them is a trip to already-relegated Levante this weekend.
The former Liverpool hitman has played in 11/12 European fixtures this term, missing the other through suspension.
Atletico are still well in the hunt for the Liga title too, sitting level on points with leaders Barcelona, so will be targeting an incredible double before the end of the season. Next up for them is a trip to already-relegated Levante this weekend.
Fernando Torres has won 42% of his duels in La Liga this season.
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