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MADRID. — Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola conceded his side had paid a heavy price for a slow start as Saul Niguez’s sensational 11th minute solo effort handed Atletico Madrid a slender 1-0 from their Champions League soccer semi-final, first leg on Wednesday night.

The German champions dominated possession, but struggled to create chances as Atletico held out for their 33rd clean sheet of the season to take a huge step towards their second final in three years.

“We had talked before the game about how Atletico tend to start well,” said Guardiola, who will leave Bayern to join Manchester City at the start of next season. It is not a great result for us. It is always unpleasant to have not scored an away goal, but we still have 90 minutes.”

Bayern also lost the first leg of their semi-final in Spain to Real Madrid and Barcelona in the previous two years of Guardiola’s tenure. — AFP.