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Atletico always a tough side defensively, says Thiago

By Editor
27 September 2016   |   3:56 am
Thiago Alcantara believes Bayern Munich are facing the best defensive side in the world in Atletico Madrid, but is confident they can triumph in tomorrow’s Champions League encounter.
Bayern Munich's Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal (R) and Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara celebrate after the Champions League quarter-final, first-leg football match between Bayern Munich and Benfica Lisbon in Munich, southern Germany, on April 5, 2016. Bayern Munich won the match 1-0. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN

Bayern Munich’s Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal (R) and Bayern Munich’s Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara celebrate after the Champions League quarter-final, first-leg football match between Bayern Munich and Benfica Lisbon in Munich, southern Germany, on April 5, 2016.<br />Bayern Munich won the match 1-0. / AFP / ODD ANDERSEN

Thiago Alcantara believes Bayern Munich are facing the best defensive side in the world in Atletico Madrid, but is confident they can triumph in tomorrow’s Champions League encounter.

Atletico proved their European mettle by defeating heavyweights Bayern in last season’s semi-finals when Pep Guardiola was in charge at the Allianz Arena.

However, Thiago believes that Bayern – now coached by Carlo Ancelotti – have learnt plenty of lessons from that two-leg defeat and is backing the team to leave the Vicente Calderon with all three points.

“I am really looking forward to the game. Atletico reached the final last year,” Thiago said at a news conference.“We know from playing them in the semi-finals how they play. We know their strengths and their weakness. We have to deploy all our weapons against them. They defend better than us, better than Barcelona, better than any other team in the world.

“We’re not thinking about revenge for last season, it is a different game. It’s a group-stage game so it will be less emotional than a semi-final.“It’s important for us to win the away games, or at least take home as many points as possible.”Bayern won their Group D opener against Rostov 5-0, while Atletico beat PSV 1-0 on matchday one.

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