Bayern Munich vs Atletico Madrid: Robert Lewandowski secures meaningless win in Group D

Bayern Munich 1 Atletico Madrid 0: Bayern will be the team all group winners will want to avoid

Lewandowski scored a stunning first-half free kick (Getty)

Bayern Munich ended their Champions League group stage campaign with a narrow win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night. Robert Lewandowski’s first half goal was enough to separate last year’s semi-finalists on a freezing night in Munich.

In terms of cold, hard results, this game was meaningless. Both teams had already qualified for the knockout phases, and the Spaniards were already group winners. As Atletico manager Diego Simeone put it before the game, however, pride is sometimes more important than points.

Pride certainly seemed important enough for Bayern, who burst out of the blocks. Both Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa managed shots in the first minute of play as the home side pressed high in the opening phases.

The German champions have struggled to deal with the pressure they have been under this season, dropping points in several big games. With nothing riding on this result, the shackles seemed to be loosened a little.

It took ten minutes for Atletico to show a sign of life, Yannick Carrasco twice finding space in the box and hitting the ball straight at Manuel Neuer.

By that time, the Spanish side had settled, and were content to hold Bayern on the edge of their own final third.

Bayern, though, were enjoying their freedom. Before 25 minutes were up, Douglas Costa had caused a frantic goalmouth scramble as he burst into the box from the left, and Arturo Vidal had mustered a scuffed shot towards goal.

It was Robert Lewandowski, though, who eventually broke through on the half hour mark. Determined to affect the game in one way or another, Carrasco brought down Juan Bernat on the edge of the area, and Lewandowski whipped the free-kick into the top corner. It was almost a carbon copy of the free kick he had scored against Mainz a few days earlier.

Lewandowski was enjoying himself in every corner of the pitch. A centre-forward who occasionally drifts onto the left, the Pole even popped up at right back at one point, breaking down a Madrid attack with some sharp defending.

Had Renato Sanches’ pass not gone astray, he may even have had a chance from the resulting counter attack. That, and one of Manuel Neuer’s customary auditions for a role in midfield, were the only other moments of excitement as Bayern calmly played out the first half.

Robben tries to dribble his way through a stubborn Atleti defence (Getty)

Come the second half, the hosts seemed more content to play on the counter-attack. Both Lewandowski and Robben broke free before the hour mark, denied only by some last ditch defending.

Costa and Bernat also had chances, while Robben continued to terrorise Stefan Savic. The Dutchman even tumbled in the box under minimal contact from Savic, but referee Nicolas Danos was unfazed by the Bayern protests.

As the second half wore on, Savic and Diego Godin were forced to lead a dogged display of defending. Atletico excel in that discipline, and despite increasing pressure, Bayern were struggling to create chances.

Sadly for Madrid, the same was true at the other end. Antoine Griezmann waited in vain for even the sniff of a chance to hit Bayern on the break.

The Frenchman has been under pressure from the Spanish press recently, following a goal drought in La Liga. Tonight, he was the victim of a rare strong defensive performance from Ancelotti’s Bayern.

Lewandowski celebrates his goal in a freezing Munich (Getty)

With just over fifteen minutes to go, Atletico began to show signs of life, with Thomas Partey and Angel Correa snatching at half chances. Bayern promptly exploited the extra space at the back. First Robben set up a headed chance for Lewandowski. Minutes later, Thiago cleared the crossbar from several yards in front of goal.

The announcement of four minutes of added time briefly spurred Atletico on, but it was too little, too late. Bayern remained comfortable, and secured victory. Victory which, though mathematically meaningless, will give Carlo Ancelotti’s side some much needed cheer before Christmas.

Bayern Munich: Manuel Neuer - Rafinha, Mats Hummels, David Alaba, Juan Bernat - Thiago, Arturo Vidal, Renato Sanches - Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski, Douglas Costa

Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak - Sime Vrsaljko, Diego Godin, Stefan Savic, Lucas Hernandez - Saul Niguez, Gabi, Koke, Nicolas Gaitan - Antoine Griezmann, Yannick Carrasco