Carlo Ancelotti’s perfect start to his tenure at Bayern Munich came to an end at the Vicente Calderon when Atletico Madrid beat them for the second time in five months. Diego Simeone got the better of ‘Don Carlo’ yet again making it five wins against the Italian.
The Bavarians dominated possession but it was Atletico’s Yannick Ferreira Carrasco who was the difference between the two teams. A goal scored by the Belgian winger in the 35th minute was enough to see the Red-and-Whites finish Matchday 2 at the top of Group D with six points.
Atletico could have extended their lead after Arturo Vidal ran into Filipe Luis inside the box. He was awarded a penalty but in a repeat of the Champions League final, Griezmann missed and hit the crossbar.
Also Read: UEFA Champions League 2016-17: Diego Simeone is a 'super coach', says Xabi Alonso
This group stage clash was a chance for the German club to get revenge on Simeone and his men for their semi-final exit last season but they’ll have to wait till the return fixture to try again. Atletico maintained their perfect start to the Champions League and made it 26 victories in 31 games in Europe.
Here are five talking points from the clash of the European heavyweights
#1 Atletico Madrid’s work ethic
Atletico Madrid’s performance against Bayern Munich alone should assure Simeone that he made the right decision by staying on as manager this summer. Atletico played their best game this season as they formed an impenetrable wall in front of Bayern’s determined attack.
It is rare to see a team play with as much cohesion as the Spanish club did. All ten outfield players, especially the defenders, were quick to recover and track back without any hesitation.
Every time they lost the ball to a Bayern player, they were back in position and getting into shape to close off any avenues of attack. While Ancelotti’s men were passing the ball around, probing, looking for a way in, Simeone’s men were closing in on them.
They played with immense energy and pounced on every opportunity to attack in large numbers with ruthless speed.
Despite the narrow margin between the two teams, it was Atletico’s work rate, their ability to be quicker on the ball and their movement off it that set them apart from their opponents.
#2 Bayern Munich – all teeth, no bite
The worst thing you can do against a club that revels in playing counter-attacking football is hold onto possession. And Bayern Munich made that very mistake. Despite starting with their strongest eleven, Munich barely stretched or penetrated the red-and-white wall.
While there was plenty of action on either wing from Franck Ribery, David Alaba, Thiago and Philipp Lahm, their efforts lacked the edge that could rattle their opponents.
Both Muller and Lewandowski had shots on goal but nothing that troubled Oblak too much. Neither did having Bayern’s full-backs play wide of their position have any positive impact on their game. Rather, while David Alaba’s forward run did move the ball quickly up the field, his deliveries into the box were sloppy and wasteful.
The Bavarians did their best to knock the ball about with their usual ease but Atletico was quick to block any pass or cross that came their way. By the time they looked up to move the ball forward, red and white shirts were already filling up the gaps in the field.
#3 The frustrated figure of Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres’s role at Atletico Madrid has been mired in uncertainty since the signing of Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla for a transfer sum of €32 million. Relegated to coming on as a substitute for most of the season so far, the Spanish forward got the nod ahead of Gameiro against Bayern.
Starting Torres seemed a good idea when in the 11th minute a loose touch from Javi Martinez allowed him a great opportunity but the striker couldn’t find the target.
Ironically, it seemed like Torres was destined to misfire all night as the game proceeded. He missed a sitter from three yards out that hit the near post and went out. He hit the side-netting in the 33rd minute and went on to miss a few more chances.
The Spaniard had a frustrating night but his contribution shouldn’t be overlooked just because he didn’t score. He may have missed the bulk of his team's chances on goal but he also did his part to hold up the ball and go back for it.
His counterpart on the other side of the field had an equally frustrating night as Robert Lewandowski misfired on a few occasions and lacked any threat.
#4 Packed midfield
Both clubs put the strongest team forward available to them and playing the way they do, Bayern in a 4-3-3 and Atletico in a 4-4-2, the midfield was always going to be a crowded area. With hardly any balls going through the middle of the park, most of the attack came from the wings. Lahm, Alaba, Luis, and Juanfran were four of the busiest men on the pitch.
Seven midfielders meant the game was scrappy with possession changing a lot in the opening few minutes of the game. Bayern did their best to find space in the midst of all those players with forward runs and link up play but that just suited Atletico who were quick to repossess the ball and go on the counter.
Carrasco, the sole goal scorer of the night was crowded out for most of the game. His chance to score came when Xabi Alonso lost possession from a loose touch and Carrasco finding space, sprinted forward to work the angle and send the ball past Manuel Neuer’ s outstretched hand into the back of the net after bouncing off the far post.
#5 Can Bayern win the Champions League this year?
Perhaps it's unfortunate that the chinks in Bayern Munich’s armour were put on display so early on in the competition. After their resounding Matchday 1 victory over Russian club Rostov, Bayern travelled to the Vicente Calderon to take on Atletico on their home turf – the scene of their elimination last season.
Bayern's best efforts fell short as Atletico Madrid proved impossible to break down. With a defeat so soon after the first one at the hands of Simeone's men, the powers-that-be at Bayern must be anxious.
Just one Champions League trophy in fifteen years means that the Bavarians aren't doing as well as they would like to on the European stage. Their susceptibility to crumble especially when faced with Spanish opponents is telling of their true potential and ability.
Bayern won the Champions League in 2013 and have since repeatedly been defeated by Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid. Their loss to Atletico also implies they are now at a greater risk of qualifying second from their group and possibly facing a tough opponent in the round of 16.
