Champions League: Atletico Madrid advances past Baynern to final

MUNICH — A goal from Antoine Griezma sent Atletico Madrid to the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons despite a 2-1 defeat at Baye Munich on Tuesday.

Atletico, which lost to city rival Real Madrid in the 2014 final, progressed on the away goals rule with an aggregate score of 2-2 after wiing the first leg of their semifinal in Madrid 1-0.

Atletico striker Feando Torres had the chance to settle it with a late penalty, only for Manuel Neuer to save his spot kick.

Torres wasn’t the only one to miss from the spot. Atletico’s Jan Oblak saved a penalty from Thomas Mueller in the first half, minutes after Xabi Alonso leveled the tie with a free kick in the 31st.

Griezma scored in the 54th to put Atletico in the driving seat, before Robert Lewandowski headed Baye back in front on the night in the 74th to set up a furious finale.

Baye needed one more goal to avoid going out at the semifinal stage for the third straight season to a Spanish team and poured everything forward only to be denied by Oblak and his defenders.

Atletico will play either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the final in Milan on May 28. Their first leg match finished 0-0 last week in Manchester, with the retu match being played in Madrid on Wednesday.

Baye started Tuesday’s game with the intensity needed to claw back the deficit from the first leg.

Lewandowski epitomized the home side’s spirit by fighting for every ball, eaing a coer at one stage when it looked like a lost cause.

Lewandowski, being marshaled by Diego Godin, was inches away from meeting Douglas Costa’s cross and Arturo Vidal fired the next opportunity over the top as Baye kept up the pressure.

Gabi drew a fine save from Neuer in what was Atletico’s best first-half chance after Griezma pulled the ball back.

After that, it was all Baye.

Mueller and Lewandowski both went close and Vidal had another effort stopped by Oblak, who pulled off a brilliant save to deny Lewandowski in the 20th minute when it seemed the Poland striker must score.

Atletico was living dangerously and coach Diego Simeone was getting increasingly agitated on the touchline. Oblak was relieved to see the ball fly over after a goalmouth fumble and the Atletico goalkeeper was waed for time wasting with less than half an hour played.

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A blatant foul from Augusto Feandez gave Baye the free kick from which Alonso scored with the help of a deflection from Jose Maria Gimenez.

Gimenez was then penalized for a push on Javi Martinez but Mueller was thwarted from the resultant penalty by Oblak, who also blocked Alonso’s effort from the rebound.

Griezma scored the decisive goal after combining with Torres, heading the ball to his teammate and then racing onto the retu pass to finish coolly past Neuer on a breakaway.

Baye kept trying, forcing Godin and Gimenez to clear, and Oblak to make a number of saves before Lewandowski finally made a breakthrough, heading home from close range after Vidal sent a header across goal from Alaba’s cross.

It was as good as it got for Baye and means coach Pep Guardiola’s dream of a treble from his last season in charge is over. The Spanish coach is joining Manchester City next season.