Daily Times

BERLIN: Atletico Madrid can make club history against Bayern Munich on Tuesday as the Spaniards look for a record sixth group stage win with both teams through to the last 16.

Diego Simeone’s team arrives in Munich as the only side with a 100 per cent record in Europe after five wins in five. The Group D leaders are six points clear of second-placed Bayern, who they beat 1-0 in Madrid in September thanks to Yannick Carrasco’s first-half strike.

Only five teams achieved the feat of winning all six Champions League group stage games – Real Madrid (twice, 2011/12, 2014/15), AC Milan (1992/93), Paris Saint-Germain (1994/95), Spartak Moscow (1995/96) and Barcelona (2002/03).

Bayern have their own record run to maintain in Munich as their 4-1 victory over PSV in October was their 14th straight home win in the Champions League – a competition best.

The match at Allianz Arena is a dead rubber and regardless of the result Atletico will progress as group winners with Bayern second. But the Bayern have a score to settle after September’s defeat in Madrid and a semi-final exit last season at the hands of Atletico and their star player Antoine Griezmann. Atletico lost last season’s final to neighbours Real Madrid in Milan after beating Bayern in the semis.

Atletico beat Bayern 1-0 at home and although the Germans won the return 2-1 in Munich last May, Griezmann’s crucial away goal knocked the Bavarians out on a night when Thomas Mueller and Fernando Torres had their penalties saved.

Atletico lost their last two matches in Munich and their contrasting domestic and European fortunes so far this season continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Espanyol at home on Saturday. That result left them nine points adrift of Spanish league leaders Real Madrid.

Atletico recovered their defensive solidity with four consecutive clean sheets following a 3-0 humiliation by Real Madrid two weeks ago.

Simeone named a full strength 20-man squad for the trip to Germany. However, key players like Diego Godin, Carrasco and Griezmann may be rested with nothing riding on the match and a crucial La Liga trip to Villarreal to come on Monday.

Having won the Bundesliga title for each of the last four seasons – a German league record – Bayern find themselves in an unusual position, second place in Germany’s top flight, three points adrift of leaders RB Leipzig.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti experimented with his team and switched Thomas Mueller from the wing into the attacking midfield position and opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, which paid off as his team won 3-1 at Mainz. Mueller ran Bayern’s attack at the head of a three-man triangle with Philipp Lahm and Thiago Alcantara playing as defensive midfielders.

Virtually, all of the Bayern squad trained on Sunday, the only exceptions were long-term injury victims Julian Green and Kingsley Coman. Holger Badstuber and Xabi Alonso returned from their illness and injury respectively.