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Much at stake in Atletico - Bayern semi-final

Xinhua, April 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Atletico Madrid entertain Bayern Munich in the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Wednesday night in what promises to be a fascinating contests between two sides with sharply contrasting styles of play and with their own reasons to need to reach the final.

Atletico want to book a ticket for Milan to overcome the memories of their defeat to neighbors Real Madrid two years ago, when a Sergio Ramos header in injury time denied them a famous victory.

Meanwhile for Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola winning the Champions League would justify his three years at the club which are coming to an end this season with his move to Manchester City.

Atletico fans also want revenge over words from Bayern director, Karl Heinz Rummenigge, who was less than complimentary over Atletico's style of play after they had struggled past PSV Eindhoven on penalties earlier in the tournament.

A win for the Spanish club would also be the perfect way to help it celebrate the 113th anniversary of its foundation, which was on April 26th 1903, in style.

Atletico midfielder Saul summed up his club's philosophy in an interview with Spanish sporting paper, Diario AS on Tuesday saying "every ball is a war and we have to win."

Coach Diego Simeone showed that belief on Saturday when he was caught on camera telling a ball boy to throw a second ball on the pitch to try and stop an attack by Malaga in their narrow 1-0 win at the weekend. Such unsporting behavior is likely to see him sent to the stands for the rest of the domestic campaign, but there is no denying his influence over the side's fighting spirit.

Diego Godin will be missing but youngster Lucas has provided solid cover in central defense and Stefan Savic was brought in to do such a job.

Meanwhile Antoine Griezmann is in excellent form in attack, while Fernando Torres is playing his best football for years.

Bayern will control most of the ball in the Calderon, but that won't worry the Atletico fans who will look for their players to snap into tackles and launch their typically lethal counter-attacks. Endit