History to count for nothing as Bayern host Atletico

Bavarians face Rojiblancos in return leg hoping to overturn one-goal deficit at Allianz Arena

KARACHI:

When the Allianz Arena turns red in Munich today, there will a certain air of unease around it. Atletico Madrid would be coming to town and the entire city, in fact the entire country, will stop to witness what their beloved Bavarians will do in the second leg.

But Bayern have a problem; they trail Atletico 1-0. The Bavarians were stung by Saul Niguez’s sensational strike and had simply no answer for it.



They huffed and puffed all around Atletico’s penalty area, trying to penetrate the compact well-drilled back-line. But as many teams, including the mighty Barcelona, have found out this season; Atletico don’t concede that easily.

So now Bayern have two problems. They not only have to try and breach Europe’s best defence but as the traditional giants in this tie, they also have pride on the line.





Despite Atletico’s rising stature in the past few years, Diego Simeone’s men weren’t supposed to do what they did to Bayern last week. They were supposed to put in a good fight and, despite all the efforts, were supposed to go to Germany with an uphill task of overturning the away goal, or goals, they conceded at the Calderon.



Apparently Atletico didn’t read the script. Atletico found the winner through a brilliant solo effort by Saul, managed to keep Bayern out, and now go into the second leg with an invaluable, and potentially decisive, lead.

Couple that with their dramatic 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, in which Simeone, who was serving a three-match stadium ban, communicated from the stands, and saw Antoine Griezmann score a goal within 42 seconds of his substitution, the Rojiblancos will be oozing with confidence.

“There is a lot of emotion involved now that we can reach another final. From a very young age, I have dreamt of winning this trophy — lifting it, kissing it and taking a picture with it. We were very close [against Real], but in football these things happen. And only in rare cases do you get another opportunity, like now. We hope to go down in history and win this trophy,” said Atletico defender Filipe Luis.





His words echo what every Atleti player must be feeling at the moment after most of them were there at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon when Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos headed in the stoppage-time equaliser to deny Atletico their first-ever Champions League crown.

The feeling must have been devastating, but they now have a chance to make amends. And all that anger, all that frustration, of being so near yet so far will be taken out against Bayern as Atletico seek to write their own chapter of European glory.

But their task won’t be easy.



Bayern have a daunting home record in the Champions League, having won all games at home this season. Add to that the raucous and intimidating atmosphere of the Allianz Arena and Atletico will have to dig real deep if they are to make their way into the final.

But regardless of the jitters the mattress-makers will feel when the match kicks off, one thing would be certain; the history of the two clubs — the fact that one is a European heavyweight while the other is just finding its feet — would count for nothing.



Because despite Bayern having won the competition five times, despite Bayern being the dominant force they are in world football and despite them sending out warning signs to Atletico to expect fireworks in Munich, Simeone’s men will not be intimidated; they will go for the jugular and they will not rest.

In this tie, the David that has turned into the Goliath and, while it is too early to say anything, it would be safe to assume that Bayern, not Atletico, enter the second leg as underdogs.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2016.

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