Greatest Comeback Ever in Football History – Atlético Madrid vs Bayern Munich – PES 2016
There was a tense atmosphere throughout the second leg in Munich, with the tie delicately balanced until the final whistle.
Bayern’s opening goal, Muller’s penalty miss and tempers flaring on the touchline – Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone animatedly disagreeing over a decision – had already made for an entertaining first half.
Griezmann’s vital away goal and Lewandowski’s close-range finish – nodding in Arturo Vidal’s headed cross from four yards – pointed towards even more drama in the final 15 minutes.
However, the anticipated Bayern onslaught failed to materialise.
Instead, Atletico won a penalty, despite Torres being fouled outside the box, before Simeone lost his cool again when he appeared to strike a member of his own staff.
Still Bayern needed only one goal to progress – and had five minutes of added time to score it. But Atletico survived, sparking wild celebrations among Simeone and his players.
Third time lucky for Atletico?
Atletico have lost twice in the final of Europe’s leading club competition – to Bayern in the 1974 European Cup and against neighbours Real two years ago.
Against a team playing in their fifth successive semi-final, they produced another display of remarkable defiance at the Allianz Arena.
German champions Bayern had 33 attempts on goal and 72% of possession – but it still was not enough to beat the gritty Spaniards.
The hallmark of Atletico’s recent success has been their strength in defence, with Simeone’s side developing a reputation as one of the toughest teams in Europe to break down.
However, the quality of their clinical attack should not be overlooked.
Atletico had not even managed a single touch in the Bayern penalty area until Griezmann fired in from the edge of the box.
The France striker marginally beat the Bayern offside trap, latching on to Torres’ through ball before coolly drilling underneath Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer.
Guardiola is regarded as one of the world’s greatest coaches, having won trophies galore with both Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
But the Spaniard will leave for Manchester City in the summer having failed to deliver the Champions League in his three-year spell in Bavaria.
Guardiola had acknowledged that winning the club’s sixth European crown – or not – would be how his reign at Bayern was judged.
His side lost against Spanish opposition in the semi-finals in each of the past two seasons – to Real Madrid in 2014 and his former club Barcelona last year.
Atletico were well placed to make it an unwanted hat-trick after Saul Niguez’s sublime first-leg goal in Madrid put them in control.
Atletico Madrid progressed to the final after their 100th tie in Europe’s leading club competition.
Antoine Griezmann is Atletico Madrid’s top scorer in Champions League history with nine goals.
Thomas Muller has missed his past two penalties in the Champions League, scoring seven out of 10 in the competition.
Jan Oblak has saved two of the three penalties he has faced as Atletico Madrid’s keeper (all competitions).
All six of Xabi Alonso’s goals for Bayern have been scored from outside the box.
Alonso’s goal was the first Atleti had conceded in 632 minutes in any competition.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo (10) has more goals in the Champions League semi-finals than Robert Lewandowski (six).
Pep Guardiola has been knocked out in his past four Champions League semi-finals.
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