Pro Sports

Atletico hands Bayern another Champions League loss in Spain

Posted September 28, 2016 7:00 am

By TALES AZZONI

Atletico's Yannick Carrasco celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Champions League group D soccer match between Atletico Madrid and FC Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 . (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza) The Associated Press

MADRID (AP) - Bayern Munich's struggles in Spain continued on Wednesday with a 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Bayern's defeat at the Vicente Calderon Stadium after a first-half strike by midfielder Yannick Carrasco made it another frustrating night for the German champions against Spanish clubs.

Bayern's last three trips to Spain had ended in elimination in the semifinals of the Champions League - against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico last season. The German club failed to score on all three occasions.

The win sent Atletico clear at the top of Group D with six points from two matches. Bayern stayed on three points, one more than Rostov and PSV Eindhoven, which drew 2-2 in Russia.

Carrasco scored Atletico's winner in the 35th minute with a well-placed low shot from just outside the area, with the ball hitting the far post before going into the net.

Atletico was in control during most of the match, and Antoine Griezmann, who set up Carrasco's great run through the Bayern defense, missed an 84th-minute penalty kick that could have made the victory easier in the closing.

Bayern tried apply some pressure in the second half but was unable to threaten much against Diego Simeone's perfectly set up defense. Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak made few difficult saves throughout the match.

One of Bayern's best chances was a header by Robert Lewandowski that just missed the corner of the net in the 77th, and substitute Arjen Robben came close with a low shot in the 81st, just before Griezmann struck the crossbar from the spot after Filipe Luis was fouled by Arturo Vidal. Robben had Bayern's last chance with a weak header in injury time.

Atletico was without midfielder Augusto Fernandez, who tore a right knee ligament in the Spanish league on Sunday, while Bayern was missing Brazilian forward Douglas Costa because of a hamstring injury.

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Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni

Atletico's Yannick Carrasco celebrates with team mates scoring the opening goal during the Champions League group D soccer match between Atletico Madrid and FC Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 . (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza) The Associated Press

Bayern's Robert Lewandowski, right, tries to score as Atletico's Stefan Savic stops him during the Champions League group D soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) The Associated Press

Atletico's Antoine Griezmann, right, and Bayern's Javi Martinez jump for the ball during the Champions League group D soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) The Associated Press

Atletico's Yannick Carrasco fights for the ball against Bayern's Javi Martinez during the Champions League group D soccer match between Atletico Madrid and FC Bayern Munich at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 . (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza) The Associated Press

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