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Atlético de Madrid face a stressful final match to ensure they reach the knockout stage of the Champions League after they were only able to draw 1-1 at home to a much-changed Bayern Munich on Tuesday after a late Thomas penalty Muller.
Atleti were looking towards a comfortable victory that would have sealed a place in the round of 16 when Joao Félix put them ahead in the 26th minute, appearing at the near post to finish off a cross from Marcos Llorente.
But Diego Simeone’s team, playing without Luis Suárez and Diego Costa, were unable to increase their lead against reigning champions Bayern, who laid off most of their first-team regulars after qualifying as group winners last week. .
Atlético had to pay for their conservatism when substitute Muller beat goalkeeper Jan Oblak from point 86 after being brought down by defender Felipe.
A third consecutive draw left Atlético second in Group A with six points and to qualify they must avoid defeat in their last game against RB Salzburg, third with four points.
play1: 06Have Simeone’s passive tactics cost Atleti vs Bayern Munich?
ESPN FC’s Ale Moreno believes Diego Simeone should have been more aggressive against Bayern Munich.
“We played a great game, a good first half, we could have been further ahead than 1-0. I think the team was good until 15-20 minutes into the second half,” said Simeone. “They took the penalty and we got a draw that keeps us alive for the match with Salzburg.”
It will become clinical, calm, and repetition of situations in the picture. We improve today in terms of assists in the area. I think we are improving in the box and hopefully we will be clinicians at decisive moments like next Wednesday. “
Simeone made a defensive substitute just before conceding the penalty by taking out Ángel Correa for Héctor Herrera and surprisingly took out scorer Felix and in-form winger Yannick Carrasco just after Mueller converted from the point.
“We feel angry and frustrated because we have tied for a penalty and we leave here with a bad taste in our mouths,” said the Atlético Llorente winger. “Bayern are a great team, but we did more than enough to win.”
They were not far from taking the lead again, as defender Mario Hermoso narrowly missed the target with a late header, while also closing in with a last corner kick in overtime.
Bayern, whose record streak of 15 consecutive Champions League wins came to a halt, top the group with 13 points, while Lokomotiv Moscow, which lost 3-1 at home to Salzburg in the group opener, is last. with three.
Source: espn.co.uk
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