- Title: Carrasco strike helps Atletico halt Bayern's perfect run
- Date: 28th September 2016
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO SIMEONE ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO SIMEONE, SAYING: "I feel lucky to be the coach of these players. Why? Because they play with such passion and compromise in every game that is really difficult to achieve. What did I like? Everything, everything." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO SIMEONE, SAYING: "We played against one of the best three teams in the world and I think it was one of the best performances since I've been at Atletico Madrid." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATLETICO MADRID COACH DIEGO SIMEONE, SAYING: "What is going on with Antoine (Griezmann)? He missed a penalty as (Diego) Maradona, (Lionel) Messi, (Michel) Platini, Zico did. Some of the best players in the world. He will keep shooting the penalties because of his personality. We are very happy with Antoine´s work." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS SIMEONE LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM BAYERN MUNICH COACH CARLO ANCELOTTI AT NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BAYERN MUNICH COACH CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "It was a difficult match as we expected. Atletico have played as we expected them to play. We could have completed a better game. We started well but then we lost some duels. We gave them the opportunity to look for the counter-attack and that complicated the match for us." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BAYERN MUNICH COACH CARLO ANCELOTTI, SAYING: "It is always sad to lose, we don't want to lose. It happened. We have to analyse the match and fix what we have done wrong and look forward. We are at the start of the season. We still have the chance to top the group." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS ANCELOTTI LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 14th October 2016 00:03
- Keywords: Atletico Madrid Diego Simeone Bayern Munich Carlo Ancelotti Champions League
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00151HF48V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Bayern Munich's perfect start to the season under coach Carlo Ancelotti came to an end as Yannick Carrasco's first-half goal gave Atletico Madrid a 1-0 home victory in their Champions League Group D game on Wednesday (September 29).
Bayern were aiming to make it nine wins in a row in all competitions, but were derailed when Atletico struck in the 35th minute for the only goal of the game.
"I feel lucky to be the coach of these players. Why? Because they play with such passion and compromise in every game that is really difficult to achieve. What did I like? Everything, everything," Atletico coach Diego Simeone told a news conference.
"We played against one of the best three teams in the world and I think it was one of the best performance since I've been at Atletico Madrid," the Argentinean added.
The result put Atletico top of the group on six points from two games, three clear of Bayern in second.
PSV Eindhoven and Rostov, who drew 2-2 in Russia, are level on one point.
Atletico, who beat Bayern in the semi-finals of last season's competition, seized the initiative when Xabi Alonso gave away the ball in midfield, allowing the Spaniards to counter.
Antoine Griezmann sent Carrasco through on goal and the Belgian winger struck a low, left-footed shot past helpless Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and in off the post.
Atletico could have made it 2-0 with six minutes remaining but Griezmann drove his penalty against the crossbar, after Arturo Vidal had fouled Filipe Luis just inside the area.
Asked about Griezmann's performance from the penalty spot, Simeone said the Frenchman will keep shooting the penalties.
"What is going on with Antoine? He missed a penalty as Maradona, Messi, Platini, Zico did. Some of the best players in the World. He will keep shooting the penalties because of his personality. We are very happy with Antoine´s work," he said.
Fernando Torres was also dangerous with his close-range header from a corner striking the post.
He was influential in Atletico's goal, pressuring Alonso to give up possession which allowed Griezmann to break and tee up Carrasco.
In a post match news conference, Ancelotti said the match panned out as he expected.
"It was a difficult match as we expected. Atletico have played as we expected them to play. We could have completed a better game. We started well but then we lost some duels. We gave them the opportunity to look for the counter-attack and that complicated the match for us," he said.
Early in the second half, Ancelotti brought on Arjen Robben, Mats Hummels and Joshua Kimmich.
Atletico maintained control and Carrasco nearly scored his second but Neuer kept out his curled shot.
Ancelotti was disappointed but remained upbeat.
"It is always sad to lose, we don't want to lose. It happened. We have to analyse the match and fix what we have done wrong and look forward. We are at the start of the season. We still have the chance to top the group," the Italian said.
The 1-0 was the same result that Pep Guardiola´s Bayern achieved last season during their visit to the Vicente Calderon in the knockout stage of the Champions League. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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