Good evening, folks.
I’m excited – not gonna lie.
In many ways, this would’ve been the perfect final but we just have to get over the fact that one of these teams will miss out on a Champions League medal this season.
The pressure is firmly on Pep Guardiola. Brought to Bayern to win big in Europe, it hasn’t worked out that way at all and he’s probably still scarred from the semi-final in 2014, when Real Madrid humiliated them in Bavaria.
He faces a superb coach in Diego Simeone tonight, who has overseen Atleti reaching the final four of this competition twice in the last three seasons and who made it to the final two years ago.
The teams are in, by the way. So, let’s bring you the home side first.
And here’s how Bayern will look tonight.
The big news is that Thomas Muller has been dropped to the bench by Guardiola. He selects Robert Lewandowski as a lone striker with Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa providing some support in wide areas. That means a central trio of Thiago Alcantara, Arturo Vidal and Xabi Alonso.
For Atleti, they have to deal with the big loss of Diego Godin in central defence while Lucas Hernandez also misses out. Ex-Manchester City player Stefan Savic slots in alongside Jose Maria Giminez. Elsewhere, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco is also injured with Augusto Fernnadez coming into the middle of midfield.
Here’s what happened when the sides last met in 1974.
That’s Franz Beckenbauer lifting the European Cup and Gerd Muller with that perfectly-maintained mustache.
Jumpers for goalposts.
It really should’ve been Atleti’s day too. The game was scoreless until the 114th minute when future Spanish coach Luis Aragones scored for them. But, with the last kick of the game, Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck equalised and the game went to a replay.
TWO (yes, two) days later, Bayern hit four and that was that. Interestingly, a man called Muller scored twice.
A startling stat that shows the gulf in European success between Spain and Germany in recent years.
Lots of respect shown by Pep here. Dropping Muller – who is such a livewire and always a nuisance – in favour of some extra padding in midfield says much about how wary he is of being done by Atleti here. Teams are on the pitch, by the way.
KICK-OFF!
Quick shot from Saul Niguez but it’s easy for Neuer to gather. Nice edge to this early on – both sides high on energy.
Two Premier League ‘flops’ in the Atletico defence with Felipe Luis on the left of their defence. Savic, as mentioned previously, in the middle.
If you’re looking for a player in form, by the way, look no further than Fernando Torres. Five in his last six games. His best form since that glorious first season at Anfield, perhaps?
Atleti have started very well here – shutting Bayern down and getting tight. On the attack, they’ve been bright too. Moments ago, Alaba cheaply surrendered possession along the touchline and Guardiola threw his hands up in the air. Already he seems pretty pent-up.
A feeble effort from Torres as he cuts in from the right channel. But space opened up as Atleti countered from the halfway line.
GOAL! Saul Niguez!
CLOSE! There’s almost an immediate equaliser as Vidal gets to it before Jan Oblak and his header seems to float towards the corner only for Giminez to get back and head off the line from underneath his own bar.
WHAT. A. GOAL.
My word. Saul is so positive when he picks the ball up and jinks his way towards goal. Thiago doesn’t want to foul so he backs off. Then, he evades two challenges with some superb feet and as he looks up towards goal, he bends it to the far corner and it carefully kisses the inside of the upright before nestling in the net.
That was Norman Whiteside in 1985 all over again – with added tricks and fancy footwork.
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Ah, yes. Better call Saul, indeed. By the way, can anyone guess who his agent is?
Bayern just finding it very difficult to make slick passes count. Can’t remember when they’ve managed three in a row. As they try to get a little interchange to happen, along comes a misplaced delivery or an imposing Atleti player to quell the attack.
CLOSE! Costa narrowly misses the near post with a vicious, in-swinging free-kick from the right side. Oblak (and everyone else, really) was expecting a cross but he whipped it low and didn’t miss by much. Side-netting with the goalkeeper scrambling.
Lahm wants a penalty as Lahm lashes a strike towards goal after jinking inside a challenge and taking it on his left. Referee tonight is Mark Clattenburg and he waves away the protests.
VERY CLOSE! That’s route one stuff and very nearly a second for Atleti. There was a little flick and Griezmann was on it in a flash. He tried to push it past Neuer at his near post but the keeper got down to his left and stuck out a leg to block. Martinez and Alaba are really struggling to keep tabs on Atleti’s front two here. They’re causing big problems.
A bit better from Bayern but still no chance created since that Vidal header immediately after Saul’s goal. Coman shows pace down the right side before planting a simple cross right at Oblak at his near post. Moments later, Vidal shoots from distance but it’s wild.
It’s not going to be easy for Bayern to find a way past this Atleti defence, by the way, even without Diego Godin.
BOOKING! Saul races down the Atleti right side and burns Bernat. He’s eventually brought down by Costa who gets a yellow for his troubles.
CLOSE! This is a shop-window performance by Saul. He picks it up wide left and whips in a superb cross to the near post for Koke. He just tries to flick it towards goal but it takes a touch off a Bayern defender and rolls out for a corner.
HALF-TIME!
Well, that went by in a blink. And what a difference between that half and the entire Real Madrid v Manchester City game last night.
Desire, energy, determination and Bayern are on the ropes a little bit.
They’ve not had any answer to the speed of Atleti and their ability to play in a controlled frenzy of sorts – tackle like terriers but play the ball with precision and pace.
The goal from Saul was a moment of individual creativity that this part of the tournament is all about – superb skill and a magic finish.
Expect Bayern to push harder and make some changes if necessary but don’t write off their chances of conceding again. Martinez and Alaba have looked far from secure trying to deal with Griezmann and Torres.
The Bayern bench, for what it’s worth:
Ulreich (GK)
Tasci
Benatia
Ribery
Gotze
Muller
Kimmich
SECOND HALF!
Torres is faced with three Bayern defenders and holds it up. He goes to jink past one and…falls over himself. And it was going so well…
VERY CLOSE! Where did that come from? Alaba lines it up – it must be from close to 40 yards – and sends a screamer arrowing towards the top corner. But it crashes back down off the crossbar and bounces to safety. Magnificent effort…by the centre-back.
VERY CLOSE! Another big chance for Bayern and this is a bad miss. Martinez rises to meet the corner and he’s completely unchallenged in the middle of the area. No Atleti player even gets off the ground. And he sends it straight at Oblak who gets down and smothers. Big, big chance.
Bayern’s approach really is fascinating. They have both full-backs – Bernat and Lahm – pushing forward at every opportunity but moving inside so that they take up old-fashioned inside-right and inside-left positions. They have zero interest in overlaps and stretching the play but, instead, making things smaller and tighter.
CLOSE! A little flick by Vidal plays in Lewandowski in the area but he’s forced wider and wider before flashing a strike across Oblak. Angle was just too acute for him.
A little ‘coming together’ involving Giminez and Lewandowski. All sorted with a handshake. Nothing to see here.
SUBSTITUTION! Ribery (on) – Coman (off)
First change for Pep but it’s not Muller who comes in. A like-for-like replacement as the veteran winger takes up a place on the right side.
Apologies – Ribery is, of course, on the left wing. But, interestingly, he’s just popped up in the right channel as Bayern try to work a neat little move. To confirm, Costa remains on the right flank.
SUBSTITUTION! Muller (on) – Thiago Alcantara (off)
Second throw of the dice from Bayern and Muller is always so good at popping up with a crucial goal.
A very precise, but pertinent, stat for you with just over 20 minutes left.
Direct route from Bayern and Costa is through in the right channel. Not much on and no support so he looks to lob Oblak – good idea but execution needs some fine-tuning.
VERY CLOSE! Vidal cracks one from distance and it’s superbly hit. It’s heading for the top corner but Oblak gets close to it and beats it away. It was really moving, as evidenced by the fact the ball lands 20 yards away after the keeper makes the save.
VERY CLOSE! Oh, Fernando Torres! How close is that? Greta link-up with Griezmann who races towards goal. Torres peels to his right and picks up the pass. Alaba tracks him but the striker rolls back the years and brings it inside, totally bemusing the Austrian. The shot is heading towards the far corner and CLANG! It hits the post and Koke’s effort on the rebound is easily saved by Neuer.
SUBSTITUTION! Benatia (on) – Bernat (off)
A final change from Pep – can they force a late equaliser here?
BOOKINGS! A bit of time-wasting here. Koke tries to race down the touchline but runs the ball out of play. He plays on for a bit – trying to get the ball as high up the pitch as possible. So, Benatia comes across and slides in, taking him down late. Koke stays down, rolls around and the Bayern sub goes in the book. Neuer comes across to remonstrate with the Atleti midfielder and he picks up a yellow too.
SUBSTITUTION! Partey (on) – Saul Niguez (off)
Surely only good things can come of a player called Partey? We’ll see as he replaces the goalscorer – the impressive Saul.
BOOKING! Vidal gets a yellow card after a foul on Juanfran and time is ticking away for Bayern here.
Benatia gets up to get his head to a left-wing cross but it’s easy for Oblak. Moments later, Vidal latches onto a loose ball and it seems to fall perfectly for him. But he can’t get his foot over the ball and hits it into the ground. Oblak gleefully claimed it.
FULL-TIME!
That’s a fantastic result and performance from Atleti. From the very start, they made things uncomfortable for Bayern and when they needed it, they came up with some magic in front of goal.
Certainly, Pep Guardiola had a few words for his side at half-time and they did improve after the break. Alaba struck the crossbar with a ferocious shot from all over 40 yards while Vidal tested Oblak too but, even when they looked under pressure, Atleti went up the other end and struck the woodwork themselves through Torres.
Simeone and his players won’t fear a trip to Bavaria for the second-leg and they haven’t conceded a goal now since 9 April.
Advantage to them, without a doubt.
Thanks for staying with our coverage this evening. Plenty of further reaction still to come on the site.
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Poor auld Mayo…
@Coner Willis: ___Well done DUBLIN! COYBIB.
Next year is there year
@George Hogan: the losing team doesn’t usually get motm in an all Ireland but Chris Barrett today gave a performance for the ages. I’m not a Mayo man but he was sensational. Hard luck to Mayo though
@Lad: Don’t disagree. He had a brilliant game. It could have gone either way depending on the clock.
@Brian O’Loughlin:
@Brian O’Loughlin: *crying laughing
@Father Spodo Komodo: Sorry was in such a rush posting I forgot to spell check….I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss Cluxton lifting the trophy….for the third year in a row! COYBIB
@Lad: mayo were the better team today I thought. Sometimes that little bit of luck doesn’t come your way.
@Jane: Jane it was close and hard luck to mayo but Dublin are the best team in this country and have proven it again and again including today.
Dublin had to be at their very best to win today and they were
@Coner Willis: You have to hand it to Dublin, they have that insatiable killer instinct to always find a way to win. The pundits were right; Mayo were battle hardened and came out firing on all cylinders, Dublin were sloppy and lethargic in the first half, but they fought their way back like champions and found a foothold in the final minutes. The ref gave Mayo a few very soft frees, and let the match run on way too long after Dublin took the lead, but the writing was on the wall at that stage.
@John drennan: this nonsense narrative. If the ref had donoe his job this game would have been over with smalls reducing dublin to 13 men after the eye gouger had already left the field. The media are bottling this for cheap dub clickbait.
Mayo would have had this if the ref was stronger. I am a galway man and have little gra for mayo football usually but they were done today.
This is a good Dublin team but the great label doesn’t hold for me.
As Kerryman Big Congrats to this Dublin Squad & Management,Phenomenal achievement in Modern era to have hunger Drive Desire to come back & win more year after year to win 3 in a row is jaw dropping! Ye have raised the bar so high it’s up to rest of Counties to quit bitching & moaning but work harder to & catch or surpass them!! But today is Dublin’s day FairPlay EPIC footballers
@colm buckley: Comment of the day, well said.
@colm buckley: well said
@colm buckley: well said
@Tip Top: so how do Wicklow, Leitrim, Carlow, London, Louth etc catch up. Show me the blueprint for success for 2nd tier counties ? Show me the funding ? The championship is a mess, everyone knows it and barring a handful of competitive games a year you might as well say good luck. BTW I don’t begrudge Dublin their win as they deserve it but don’t tell me there is a level playing field.
@colm buckley: we’ll done colm. Excellent comment
Donal Vaughan
@Hugh Jass: madness. Just madness
@Elma Phudd: Not the first player to have a rush of blood to the head, won’t be the last. His sending off isn’t the reason Mayo lost. Massive credit to Dublin!
@Hugh Jass: two yellows I thought. Ref bottled it. If the dub lad wasn’t on a yellow it would have just been two yellows.
@Michael Buckley: it’s not the only reason but it is definitely a big reason.
@Joshua Walsh: Vaughan’s was red all day. Interesting question is whether the ref would have sent off the Dublin player if Vaughan hadn’t intervened – to me, he should have, but the ref might have bottled it. Vaughan made it easy for the ref to give out two red cards.
@Joshua Walsh: third man in rule
@Hugh Jass: crazy decision, a free in with an extra man went to a hop ball with the same number of players. Mayo would have taken that point at the end not to mind having a spare player for the kick outs & general play. A major decision on his part & he had a second or two to think about it before he got to Small. He left the ref with an easy decision as he was giving Small a second yellow.
@Joshua Walsh: a blow to the head is a straight red card. Aidan O Shea had a one hundred percent black card not given too. You can’t blame the ref this time lads (or any other in my view but we won’t go there),
Hard luck today
Some achievement. Fair play to mayo they gave it a go unfortunately for them they came up against one of the best teams in recent memory
It’s more like the Joe McQuillan show again as usual. He is….without question….. The worst ref to ever take charge of a GAA game at any level
@James Doherty: yawn!
@James Doherty: don’t be silly, was his 3rd Final so he isnt as bad as u are making him out to be, everyone makes bad calls, players and management inc, Mayo lost bcos of Mayo, not the ref!
@James Doherty: Couldn’t agree more. A 16th man for the Dubs. Dublin goal was carrying, gave them a handy free when 2 of their players crashed into each other and there way that mayo player should have walked. But there you go probably sower grapes on my behalf.
@James Doherty: I was cheering for Mayo, but I thought McQuillan largely got it right. There was so much going on off the ball the whole game, it was impossible to ref really.
@James Doherty: you’re right, he had an absolute shocker and allowed Mayo away with murder time and again, but he wasn’t the reason either team won or lost.
@James Doherty: he did ok, it was a tough match to ref.
@Patricia Ellis Dunne: I’m stating as a neutral. He was horrible for both teams. Just saying
Dublin congrats. From a mayo man. We will be back. See ya next year.
@Jimmy Roughneen: I dread seeing Mayo next year Jimmy. That mayo team are bravehearts. Hard luck today
Dub here. Hard luck mayo. You were probably better on the day. Please though cut all the excuses and blames
@Ollie Watson: In fairness that was a clear cut penalty. Mayo have every reason to be aggrieved
@phil: initial contact outside the box there were frees given to mayo very softly too. Let’s be honest though decisions weren’t the difference today
@phil: No chance of penalty, initial contact outside the box.
Diarmuid Connolly worth his weight in gold.
Gutted for Mayo but Dublin fans should cherish their team and these days. They are winners.
99% were behind mayo feckin dubs
@rowan hill: Feckin Dubs. Let’s take the rest of Ireland and push it somewhere else.
@Shanahan: Where would all the culchies live and work then?
No one outside of Dublin will give credit where’s it’s due. The begrudgers will be out in force. This team has just won 3 in a row, you may not see a team do that for another 30 or 40 years. It’s an amazing achievement. So here’s what all the begrudgers can do, go f### yourselves!!! Up the Dubs!!!!! #HistoryMakers #ThreeInaRow
@Stephen Duggan: you might want to re-read most of the comments here.
@Stephen Duggan: playing at home is worth a few points
@Fracko: those sour grapes nice?
@TravellingTheWorld: no, the steroids all the Dublin team is on helps more!! Grow up!
@Fracko: you kind of have a point – i never struggled to get a ticket to a Dublin match throughout the 00s, but couldn’t get one for the last 3 finals….. however Dublin were filling croker for every game they played in the 90s and 00s, so talking about all fans being recent is clearly bull.
Also saw loadsa mayo fans around Drumcondra today who probably haven’t worn a shirt since last year’s final – bandwagons happen everywhere .
Heart breaks for Mayo
31 against 1. Somehow always manages to make us winning it year after year sweeter.
Nothing against Dublin but sickened for mayo
Winning without playing to their best. A great team. In fairness they have deserved the 3 in the row. Even when they went behind today you always knew they’d come back and win it.
@Danny Nash: I think they were at their best. Mayo played phenomenally and we had to be at our best
Great game, well done Dublin. Mayo should have had a penalty in fairness it was clearly inside the rectangle. May not have changed the result as Dublin had chances for goals after it but still.
@phil: not trying to kick you when your down Phil but the initial contact was outside by a bit
Fair play to Dubin they deserved their win today just about, but hard luck to Mayo.Dublin are making the biggest records today well done to them and by the look of it they will be around for another year at least.
Certainly not the best ever anyway.
@Ewan Scott: best Dublin team ever.
@O’David Dave: tbf at the moment I don’t think they are, not quite winning all Ireland’s like kk were in 00s, but as a measurement they are only two years away from history if they could do the drive for 5..
@Lad:Poor comparision surely it is easier beat a great football team than it is to beat a great hurling team any day.
@John Carroll: you literally couldn’t be more wrong.. the higher scoring game the more likely the chances of the better team winning, goes for every sport!
Congrats to the best team in Ireland in the last four decades at least, No stopping them, 4 in a row next year, Hope we meet Kerry, Hard luck Mayo, They gave everything.
@Ciarán:
If that Clifford guy goes senior we might be in with a chance next year.Well done Dublin, ye made heavy weather of it in the first half though.
@Ciarán: sorry but their not, kerry 8 alirelands and 4 in a row on the 80s. But if dublin win another 3 or 4 all Ireland’s then they are.
Thank F connelly didn’t score that final point..
Well done dublin..
@dangermouse: he won the free and made a big difference from the bench, the bench was the difference
@ktsiwot: spot on. Dublin had to change things after rhe first half and change quickly. It (just about) paid off.
@dangermouse: he’s scored the best point I’ve ever seen in an all Ireland final though
Poor old mayo again.. Closest yet today! So unlucky thought they least deserved a draw, but dublin dig in deep till the final whistle! Don’t know what Vaughan was thinking. Probably the losing of the game with the tackle on small! Maybe a potential penalty for mayo? Great final though
Was it ever going to end any different a championship final played in one of the county’s countys in which they play 99% of their championship games ..simple fact if this was in any other sport their would be uproar never mind the funding which is also farscial..even the dubs I know admit it’s a biased sport but que the deluded dubs who think I’m bitter by stating facts …
@Stevo02 Scofield:
Go away with your nonsense.
@Sandra Clifford:
My sentiments exactly.
@Sandra Clifford: stay classy.
@Sandra Clifford: Did you put one on bertie ?
@Con Murphy: Yeah great point you have defended my facts profusely the team should buy you a pint in coppers well done
@Stevo02 Scofield:
Let the bitterness and bullshit begin, maybe the county should be divided into 2 North south but if that happens then maybe they should do that to
Kilkenny/ Kerry/ any county that has won numerous championships. Utter bollix again from the vanquished. Try harder
@Stevo02 Scofield: I’ve never heard any English soccer club blame losing an fa cup final to a London club on the venue…
There won’t be a tourist milked in Temple Bar tonight.
@Paul O’Connor: as a celebration of the dubs achievement temple bar pints will under 7 euro for 70minutes only
So unlucky mayo
Mayo just don’t have the ruthless edge that Dublin showed , Mayo the superior team today but Dubs know how to win games
Speaking as a Dub it was 2 great teams going at it my nerves were gone
@GRONG: west brits the best gaa team this generation. id say that hurts.
@#WarPulev: ok pal stay off the glue . Refs win games too ya know …..
@#WarPulev: West Brits? How old are you? Something wrong with the British you racist sc**bag!!!! Sore loser!!
Was Alec Ferguson doing the time keeping?
@Daithí Uí Ciarmhaic: rock took an eternity to take that free, can’t get away with that
@Dave O’Hanlon: Clarke took an eternity to take the kick out before that. And Rock has to wait for the Mayo substitute Ger Cafferkey to come on before taking the free. Before I’m accused of bias, I’m from Tipp.
@Dave O’Hanlon: he didn’t get away with it. The referee played on for 2 and a half minutes after he scored!
One of the best displays of football that I’ve seen in both teams in a long time, was such a great game and a great nail biting final , hard luck Mayo. Well done Dublin
And Andy Moran was taken off because……….
Ba mhaith liom chomdeargas a dhéanamh go dtí foireann Athá Cliatha.
Oh ye poor aul fcukers Mayo, serious sympathy for em
A dub ,it could have gone either way ,Mayo were a great team and I almost feel sorry for them ,but ian still happy they didn’t win
jesus,only for vaughan losing the head mayo had it,clarkes going long on a vital kick out was unforgivable as well,have to hand it to the dubs though,ground it out.
Always the bridesmaids!
What I would suggest all the begrudgers do is probably morally wrong and physically impossible. Come on you boys in blue!!
Congratulations Dublin, great win. Kerry will be gunning for ye next year, with that David Clifford guy.
There’s moonlight in Mayo. Sam Maguire is in Dublin.
-7 steps Dublin goal
-Vaughan eejit
-Clear penalty for Mayo
-Oh & they’re cursed
Donal Vaughan won’t sleep well tonight, unlucky Mayo but Dublin just about deserved!!!
Touughshitsky or as they say in Spain El Tuffo
Fckn joke.
Mayo BADLY cheated
Stupidity of Vaughan cost Mayo as well as clear cut penalty denied
Would mayo have had free from point where Kilkenny committed black card offence feather than retake kick out
Well done Donal Vaughan, you cost your team the game with your stupidity
Kieran Donoghue must be laughing.
Poor auld Aidan O Shea misses out on another all Ireland medal. How many losers ones has he got now!
Stay with Kerry Star for another year and you could pick up winners medal.
Sickening
I’d like to dedicate the song Sonny by the Rubberbandits to all the Mayo fans.