Atleti ready to write club Euro history
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ATLETICO Madrid is not seeking revenge for its 2014 UEFA Champions League final defeat but instead wants to write a new chapter in the club’s history with its first European Cup after getting past Bayern Munich.
The Spanish side, which also lost the 1974 European Cup final to Bayern, advanced to the showpiece match on the away goals rule after losing 1-2 on Tuesday for a 2-2 aggregate result.
It got to the final two years ago, losing to Real Madrid, which was facing Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabue in the other semifinal yesterday after a goalless first leg.
“We are not out for revenge,” said Atletico striker Fernando Torres, who set up the first goal and missed a late penalty.
“We want to write history. We have not won this trophy and we do not care who it will be, whether Real or Manchester City.
“It was not about revenge for 1974 tonight nor is the final about revenge. It is a new chance and maybe we can write some memories,” he added.
Diego Simeone’s Atletico, which can still win La Liga this season, ousted UCL holder Barcelona in the last round and its win over Bayern, which was chasing a treble, will further boost its confidence going into the final.
“It was good how we defended. We were disoriented in the first half and we could not find our footing. But we improved after the break and made it difficult for them,” Torres said.
Frenchman Antoine Griezmann netted in the 54th minute from a Torres layoff to cancel out Xabi Alonso’s first-half opener and force Bayern to look for at least two more goals. Robert Lewandowski got Bayern’s second in the 74th but, despite waves of attacks, it failed to score again.
“The first half saw a tremendous Bayern team with pressure, possession and us showing little response to the situation,” said Simeone. “The second half was more even. We did a super counter-attack for the goal and that allowed us to get that advantage.”
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