Atlético de Madrid 0-2 FC Bayern München: result and report

The Pundit picked FC Bayern München (46%): correct

Report

FC Bayern München won 2-0 at Atlético de Madrid. Though the margin was two goals, the gap between the sides was wider than the scoreline suggests.

The first half finished goalless, but Bayern broke through nine minutes after the restart when Lennart Karl scored on 54 minutes. Konrad Laimer doubled the lead on 74 minutes, turning in Harry Kane's assist. That left Atlético needing two goals in the final quarter of an hour, and they never looked like finding them.

This was no smash-and-grab, because Bayern led almost every measure of chance quality. They finished with 2.13 xG to Atlético's 0.71, took 15 shots to six and created four big chances to two. They also hit the woodwork once, so the second goal was not their only near miss after the break.

The territory told the same story. Possession was 58% to 42%, a modest split, yet Bayern produced 74 dangerous attacks to 36 and 16 key passes to nine. The pressure readings were even more lopsided. Atlético rarely sustained any spell of pressure of their own, while Bayern's peaked late in the game.

The one caveat is that Atlético did have openings. They created two big chances and missed both, and their three shots on target matched the three saves Bayern made. Bayern were not exactly ruthless either, with two big chances of their own going begging. Still, a home side limited to six shots and well under one xG cannot claim the result turned on bad luck.