3 things we learned from Atletico's win over Bayern: Simeone does it again

Discipline, teamwork, and tireless graft.

The hallmarks of Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid team that looks an increasingly likely contender for the Champions League crown after dismissing Bayern Munich 1-0 in their semi-final opening leg Wednesday.

True, there are few more intimidating venues on the continent than the Bundesliga giant's Allianz Arena - the setting of next Tuesday's reverse meeting - but Bayern needs to score, and that's easier said than done. Under Simeone, the Rojiblancos have clean sheets in over half of their outings.

Here are the three takeaways from Atleti's slender advantage over Bayern in the Champions League semi-final:

Why was Thomas Muller benched?

In his homework for the match, Pep Guardiola must have viewed Atletico Madrid's full-backs as an Achilles heel, opting to field Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman, who streamed up and down the flanks and tried to stretch Atleti's backline out of shape.

The times Bayern doubled up on the right in the first half - attempting to catch out Filipe Luis - marked a particularly odd tactical choice too, given the Brazilian's brilliance against Barcelona over two legs in the quarter-finals. With Stefan Savic deputising for the injured Diego Godin, surely this is where the defensive weakness - if there is one at all - was situated.

Instead, Robert Lewandowski cut a lonely and frustrated figure in attack.

The game plan was stubbornly adhered to, as Franck Ribery was introduced on 64 minutes, while Thomas Muller stayed put for another six minutes. And by then, it was air-tight.

If there was one player who could've sought out pockets of space before Simeone's shut-out half-hour, it was Muller. Attack the wings, and he'll expertly slot between defenders and invariably get his head on it. Go through the middle, and he'll hold up and retain the ball behind the opposition midfield - a valuable defensive asset from the front - before picking out the right pass to a rushing teammate behind him.

But perhaps that's where another issue lay.

Lack of pace and creativity in Bayern midfield

Out-ran and out-fought.

There was so much emphasis on the flanks that Arturo Vidal sat deeper than would've been desired, while Thiago Alcantara and Xabi Alonso were extremely withdrawn and looked flat-footed as Saul Niguez fantastically slalomed through the Bayern ranks for the game's solitary strike.

Related - Watch: Saul Niguez humiliates Bayern defence with stunning solo goal

Fernando Torres almost put the tie further away from Bayern, when he rolled back the years as he jinked through and expertly steered the ball beyond Manuel Neuer. Unfortunately for the 32-year-old, he was denied by the upright:

The man charged with the task of being the last line of defence in each situation? David Alaba. One of the greatest players on the planet, wasted at centre-back. At left-back, his forays forward could've worked magnificently with Coman or Costa up ahead. In the centre of midfield, a duo of Alaba and Vidal behind Muller could've been more potent.

In a recklessly extravagant use of resources by Guardiola, that latter pairing's considerable threat was showcased in a couple of frightening pings from distance. They were often too removed from the action.

What we expected from Atleti, but Bayern was powerless

Atletico doubled up on Bayern's men from the first whistle, and the lack of adventure from the full-backs ensured that the back four remained disciplined and flat - neither of the speedsters in Coman or Douglas Costa were sneaking in behind.

It was an economical outing by the La Liga club, who nicked its goal in the opening stanza and simply contained Bayern throughout:

(Courtesy: BBC Sport)

And this is no smash and grab. Simeone has hatched this plan repeatedly, but so many opponents have struggled to overcome that immovable wall at the back and efficiency in attack.

No 1-0 deficit is tougher to climb in world football than one held by Atletico Madrid. Bayern Munich faces a Herculean task in the second leg next week.