Bayern will need to defy history to beat Atletico today

Bayern Munich want to send off coach Pep Guardiola with a title treble but must defy history and a stubborn opponent when they seek to overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday.
Bayern have never prevailed at home after losing a first leg semi 1-0 in the Champions event, going out against AC Milan on away goals in 1990 and humbled 4-0 in the Allianz Arena by Real Madrid two years ago in Guardiola’s first season in charge.
To make things worse, no team with a second leg semi-final at home has reached a Champions League final since 2011.
While Atletico may lack the formidable firepower of Real, they have not lost by more than one goal in 71 matches in all competitions since a 2-0 Liga defeat at Celta Vigo on February 15, 2015 - and they have kept a clean sheet in their last six games overall.
Bayern would welcome a 2-0 against Diego Simeone’s resilient team which would take them to the May 28 decider in Milan.
They pin their hopes on having won the last 11 Champions League home games, including the extra-time triumph over Juventus in the last 16, and a 12th straight victory Tuesday would tie the record set by Manchester United between 2006 and 2008.
Bayern will not be boosted by clinching a record fourth straight Bundesliga title as the celebrations were delayed by a 1-1 against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Guardiola rested several key players in that game Saturday while welcoming back Germany defender Jerome Boateng after three months on the sidelines with a groin injury.
It remains open whether Guardiola will field Boateng against Atletico’s fast forwards Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres.
The unpredictable Thomas Mueller was surprisingly benched until late in the game in Madrid but could start Tuesday, and his presence could also help Robert Lewandowski find the net again after an unconvincing showing last week.
Bayern will take heart from having exposed Atletico’s defence at times for some good chances after they fell behind from Saul Niguez’ super solo effort, with David Alaba denied by the crossbar.
“We’re in for a tough challenge, but after all we’re Bayern. It’s a Champions League home match and I think our record is quite decent in that respect,” Mueller said, adding “We have to be on fire.”
Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said “the match is of paramount importance to us” as Bayern want to return to Milan where they won the 2001 final against Valencia and not go out against a Spanish team the third straight year.
They were last year ousted by later champions Barcelona who fell against Atletico in the quarters this time around.
Like Guardiola, who leaves for Manchester City in summer, Simeone also rested many players on the weekend as Atletico beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to remain tied on points with league leaders Barca.
Atletico have an additional boost in form of the return of key defender Diego Godin who missed the first semi-final but Simeone insists they won’t just sit back but rather search for a crucial away goal which would make Munich’s task even more difficult.
“Some people are saying that we are a very defensive team. But our aim in Munich is to go out and attack and score at least one goal,” he said.
Simeone knows that “Bayern are going to make things very difficult for us in Munich” but Atletico are also looking to restore pride against the Bavarians who scored a 1-1 equalizer against them in the 120th minute of the 1974 final and then won the rematch 4-0.
It was Bayern’s first of now five titles in the elite event while Atletico hope to make the final a third time and finally lift the trophy in Milan.

Fixture
Semi-final, second leg  
Bayern Munich (Germany) v Atletico Madrid (Spain)   (9:45pm Qatar Time)