A breathtaking individual goal from Saul Niguez put Atletico Madrid in the box seat in their Champions League semifinal against Bayern Munich with a 1-0 victory in a tense first leg Wednesday. The midfielder magically weaved his way through the Bayern defense and produced a low finish that went in off the post to put the home side in front after 11 minutes. "It's the most important goal of my career for sure, and it could be the most beautiful too," said Saul. Diego's Simeone's superbly-drilled outfit then snuffed out Bayern's threat and even came close to doubling its lead late on when Fernando Torres' shot struck the post. "It was a great game, everyone believed in their work. We put in a huge effort," said Simeone, whose Atletico side has frequently been a scourge of more-fancied opponents with its disciplined rearguard frustrating Barcelona in the last round. While Bayern's David Alaba also hit the woodwork with a thumping drive, the result left Pep Guardiola's side facing a huge task in next week's return leg in Munich to avoid a third successive semifinal exit. "I'm not happy with how we played," said Guardiola, who is leaving Bayern in the close-season to join Manchester City. "We started badly. The goal was a consequence of our slow play. We didn't win even one battle." Atletico made an intense start in the first competitive meeting between the two sides since Bayern beat the Spaniards 4-0 in the 1974 European Cup final replay. Saul drove it in front with a sensational run from the right, snaking inside and beating three players before fending off two more and bending the ball in off the far post with a flick of his left boot. Bayern nearly equalized moments later when Arturo Vidal's looping header beat Atletico keeper Jan Oblak, but Jose Gimenez rose to head the ball off the line. Bayern was more incisive in the second half. Alaba smashed the underside of the crossbar from 30 meters, and then Javi Martinez escaped his marker at a corner but could only glance the ball into the hands of Oblak. Atletico soon regained control, leaving Bayern to try its luck from distance. Douglas Costa blasted over from 30 meters, and Vidal tried to surprise Oblak from range, but the Slovenian got across in time to parry. Atletico almost doubled its lead with its only real chance of the second half. Torres stormed into the box, took on a defender and tried to hook the ball into the far corner, hitting the post before Koke's effort on the rebound was caught by Neuer. The winner of the tie will face either Real Madrid or Manchester City in the final on May 28. Sakho suspended for 30 days Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho was Thursday provisionally suspended for 30 days after failing a drugs test, European football's governing body UEFA announced. The France international reportedly tested positive for a fat burner after Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Manchester United in the Europa League on March 17. A date for the hearing has yet to be fixed.
