Bayern Munich are bidding to avoid losing in the Uefa Champions League semifinals to Spanish opposition for the third season running, although Atlético Madrid have recent form when it comes to German opposition and impressive away last-four performances.

Atlético also hold the upper hand in the tie, scoring the only goal of the first leg through Saúl Ñíguez's fabulous early solo strike.

While Diego Simeone's Atlético have reached the last four for the second time in three years, Bayern are appearing at this stage for the fifth year in a row.

This tie will prompt particularly fond memories for Bayern, who claimed the first of their five European Cups in 1974 with victory against Atlético after a replay – the only time that happened in a final.

Previous Meetings

Before the first leg, the teams had played only twice before, in that 1974 European Cup final – both sides' first. Atlético were seconds away from taking the trophy at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels when Luis Aragonés gave them a 114th-minute lead, only for Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck to level six minutes later.

The sides on 15 May 1974 were:

Bayern: Maier, Hansen, Beckenbauer, Schwarzenbeck, Breitner, Roth, Zobel, Kapellmann, Torstensson (Dürnberger 75), Müller, Hoeness.

Atlético: Reina, Melo, Heredia, Eusebio, Capón, Adelardo, Aragonés, Salcedo (Alberto 85), Ufarte (Becerra 60), Irureta, Gárate.

Two days later, the teams returned to the Heysel Stadium for what would be the only final replay in European Cup history, and this time Bayern ran out 4-0 winners thanks to two goals each from Uli Hoeness (28 82) and Gerd Müller (56 69). It was the first of what would be three successive final wins for Bayern.

The sides on 17 May 1974 were:

Atlético: Reina, Melo, Heredia, Eusebio, Capón, Adelardo (Benegas 59), Aragonés, Salcedo, Gárate, Alberto (Ufarte 65), Becerra.

Bayern: Maier, Hansen, Beckenbauer, Schwarzenbeck, Breitner, Roth, Zobel, Kapellmann, Torstensson, Müller, Hoeness.

Match Background

Bayern

Bayern have lost to Spanish clubs in the semifinals in each of the last two seasons, going down 4-0 at home to Real Madrid in 2013/14 (0-5 aggregate) and bowing out despite a 3-2 win against Barcelona last year (3-5 aggregate).

That Madrid defeat ended an eight-game unbeaten run at home to Spanish sides. Bayern's record against Liga clubs in Munich is P23 W16 D5 L2. The Madrid reverse is the only game they have failed to win of the last six such contests.

Bayern have been unstoppable at home in this season's Uefa Champions League, winning all five games – although they needed extra time, and a recovery from 2-0 down, to beat Juventus in the round of 16 second leg.

Bayern have won all 11 Uefa Champions League home games since losing to Madrid, and are one win away from equalling the competition record set by Manchester United FC between 13 September 2006 and 29 April 2008.

They won their home group games against GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Arsenal FC and Olympiacos FC with an aggregate score of 14-1. SL Benfica werebeaten 1-0 in the quarterfinal first leg.

(Supersport)