Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Champions League group-stage meeting between Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid at the Allianz Arena. This was supposed to be a decider to see which of these two heavyweight sides would finish top of Group D, but a shock defeat for Bayern at the hands of competition minnows Rostov a fortnight ago means that all the formalities are now out of the way with ahead of this final matchday.

That is not to say there is nothing to play for this evening, though, as the Bavarian giants can set a Champions League record this evening should they pick up victory - their 15th in a row on home soil. It would be typical of Atletico to stop them right in their tracks, though, having already defeated Bayern once in the group stage, as well knocking them out of last season's competition at the semi-final stage. Not quite a bogey side, but it is fair to say that the Rojiblancos have had the better of things in recent years.

Both managers are expected to rotate their teams slightly this evening, with the £1.5m prize money on offer for the winner not really enough to tempt them to go all out for the three points. Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti has as good as confirmed in the build-up to the match that he will bring in some fresh faces, acknowledging that plenty of energy will be required to get the better of this stubborn Atleti side. Four clean sheets on the bounce for them - quite some going.

TEAM NEWS!

BAYERN MUNICH XI: Neuer; Rafinha, Hummels, Alaba, Bernat; Thiago, Vidal, Sanches; Robben, Costa, Lewandowski

ATLETICO MADRID XI: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Godin, Savic, Lucas; Gabi, Koke, Saul, Gaitan; Carrasco, Griezmann

Ancelotti has returned to the 4-3-3 lineup, partnering Robert Lewandowski with Douglas Costa and Arjen Robben in a tasty-looking forward line. The big talking point here, though, is that David Alaba - the ever-versatile Austrian - is selected in the heart of defence alongside Mats Hummels. Martinez was always expected to miss out today due to fatigue, but Ancelotti has far more adequate options on the bench to choose from.

Martinez looked a bit leggy last time out so is therefore overlooked, but the likes of Holger Badstuber and Joshua Kimmich are left on the bench. Javi Bernat and Rafinha are selected at full-back, meanwhile, and Thiago - who was talked up by his manager in the build-up to this clash - is joined by Arturo Vidal in central midfield. Ancelotti was desperate to give the Chilean some minutes today, so he will likely play for around an hour after a recent injury layoff.

Jerome Boateng is the big absence from this Bayern team, having failed to feature since hobbling off against Rostov a fortnight ago. The world's best defender (or does that honour go to opposite number Diego Godin?) has picked up a fresh injury setback and is now in a race against time to regain fitness prior to the upcoming winter break. Phillip Lahm is one game away from suspension, so there is no shock to see him omitted.

In terms of the visitors, boss Diego Simeone has surprisingly gone with Yannick Carrasco up top with Antoine Griezmann. Many expected the latter to be overlooked in particular with top spot already sealed, but do not underestimate the importance of momentum to Simeone. Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres - who missed a penalty in that previous meeting earlier this season - must therefore settle for a back-up role once again.

It looks like being a 4-3-3 formation in an attacking sense, with Nicolas Gaitan joining Carrasco and Griezmann in the forward line. Not sure just how much attacking the visitors will do this evening, mind, so expect Gaitan and Carrasco to drop into a five-man midfield during those transitions. Stefan Savic and the aforementioned Godin are selected in the heart of defence, while Jan Oblak retains his place between the sticks from last time out in the competition.

BENCH WATCH!

BAYERN MUNICH SUBS: Ulreich, Ribery, Martinez, Lahm, Muller, Badstuber, Kimmich

ATLETICO MADRID SUBS: Correa, Gameiro, Gimenez, Moya, Teye, Torres, Juanfran

It has hardly been the finest of campaigns for Thomas Muller so far, who has taken time to get up to speed with Ancelotti's favoured formation. It is back to a 4-3-3 this evening, with the prolific German international missing out - not for the first time. Renato Sanches is instead given a chance to impress, looking to leave a lasting impression on the back of a memorable year to date. Gameiro and Torres both among the visitors' subs, meanwhile, despite many expecting them to start.

Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 23 goals in the same number of outings for club and country, is selected as Bayern Munich's leading forward once again this evening, flanked by Arjen Robben and Douglas Costa. Yannick Ferreira Carrasco - the matchwinner when these two sides last faced off - will be looking to add to an impressive run of his own, which has seen him score 11 in his last 13 games for Atletico and Belgium.

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A big evening of football ahead at the Allianz Arena, then, even if this is essentially a dead-rubber as far as the result is concerned. Try telling that to both managers, who have hardly rung the changes for this one with momentum seen as being key ahead of the winter break. Bayern find themselves six points behind their opponents in the standings prior to kickoff, but they can set a new record with victory, as they aim to make it 15 home wins in a row in Europe's top club competition.

It is job done for Ancelotti in terms of progression from the group, which always has to be priority number one no matter how big the club. This is the first time since 2009-10 that Bayern have failed to top their group, though, when they accrued a total of 10 points - one more than they currently have. The 3-2 reverse to Rostov a fortnight ago really was costly in the grand scheme of things, with a poor defensive display from the Bavarians providing one of the competition's all-time great shocks.

That loss in Russia was put in context by Bayern's opening-game result back in September, when brushing aside the bottom seeds 5-0 here. Ancelotti's men followed that up with the defeat to Atletico in Madrid, but they soon got back on track by picking up six points from six against PSV Eindhoven. Finishing second means that they could now possibly face Barcelona and probably Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, the latter two of whom are on course to getting top spot sealed over the next few hours.

That said, Bayern's punishment for finishing second to Atletico could be a double-legged tie against Leicester City, AS Monaco or, possibly, one of Benfica and AS Monaco. It is very much luck of the draw, but you would of course always rather finish top just so you can have no complaints further down the line. In terms of their league aspirations, Bayern are now finally back on track after picking up successive Bundesliga wins, overcoming Bayer Leverkusen and Mainz 05 to remain three points off shock leaders RB Leipzig.

Prior to that recent run, Die Rotten had actually picked up one win from a possible six - including defeat to likely title rivals Borussia Dortmund, presuming Thomas Tuchel's men find some consistency - on top of that shock reverse away to Rostov in Europe. That, incredibly, led to the odd murmur that Ancelotti would only be a temporary option and that a new replacement - possibly Jurgen Klopp - was already being headhunted by Bayern chiefs. Football really is a brutal industry at times!

Bayern's form has been far from stellar this season, then, certainly in comparison to the past three years under Pep Guardiola at this stage of the campaign, with certain players - including Muller - struggling to integrate into the system that Ancelotti favours. After the win over Mainz last Friday many players claimed that they were starting to really click once Ancelotti had reverted things but, with three Bundesliga games to go until the month-long break, nine points from nine has to be the target.

One of those games, it should be mentioned, is against shock title contenders RB Leipzig. Usually it is easy to brush off a challenge from one of the division's smaller sides in the opening months, but we all did that with Leicester City last season - next thing we know, they're winning the title with a 10-point margin! Anyway, all focus is on rounding off this group-stage campaign with a win, and Bayern's record against Spanish opposition at home is more than decent; losing two and drawing five of their 17 games. Overall it is 18 wins from 36 both home and away against La Liga clubs.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS These two sides have met on five previous occasions, sharing two wins apiece in that time. They have faced off three times already this year, as touched upon a little earlier, having also met in the semi-final stage of the competition last season. Atletico Madrid pulled off another huge victory in the latter stages of the Champions League to condemn Pep Guardiola to one of the lowest points of his managerial career, while Yannick Ferreira Carrasco's goal 35 minutes in separated them two months back.

Yannick Ferreira Carrasco celebrates scoring the only goal of the game in the previous meeting between these two sides, just over two months ago. That came on matchday two, giving Atletico Madrid the advantage to push on and claim top spot in a group dominated by these two sides. They did just that, too, picking up maximum points and waiting for Bayern Munich to slip-up, which came two weeks ago against Rostov.

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While Bayern have history in their sights by making it 15 home wins in a row in this competition, and 20 in succession in all competitions here, Atleti are aiming to become just the seventh side to go through an entire group stage with a perfect record - something has to give. Simeone's men could join Real Madrid (2014), Barcelona (2002), AC Milan (1992), PSG (1994) and Spartak (1996) in achieving the feat. You will notice that it is becoming increasingly rare for a side to pull it off.

They have done it in trademark Atletico style in many ways, carving out successive 1-0 wins over PSV, Bayern and Rostov to kick things off in Group D. Then came a late winner at home to Rostov to keep the perfect record intact, before seeing off PSV 2-0 in Madrid last time out. The Rojiblancos have lost on their last two visits to Germany, however, so they will need to change recent history if they are to make it a perfect six this evening and cruise into the last 16 with a piece of personal history.

As well as losing on their last two visits here, the overall record is not great, either - five wins from 17. In terms of their domestic aspirations, Atleti cruised past Gijuela in the Copa del Rey in midweek, with Carrasco bagging two to make it 11 in 13 for club and country, but their La Liga title hopes are fading away by the week. A costly goalless draw against Espanyol saw them fail to make ground on Barcelona and Real Madrid, who played out a 1-1 draw just hours beforehand.

That leaves Atletico fourth in the table and nine points off rivals Real Madrid, winning just one of their last four and two of the last six. That said, do not best against Simeone's men grinding out a succession of wins-to-nil over their remaining games this calendar year, which may well put them right back in the mix as Los Blancos depart for their Club World Cup campaign. It is still very much all to play for in the Spanish top flight!

Simeone has named a load of first-team regulars in his starting lineup this evening, again due to the focus on keeping momentum going. Atleti's La Liga form has hit a bit of a sticky patch over the past month and, with games against Villarreal - two points behind them - and Los Palmas to come before that winter break, any further slip up could well prove costly. A third Champions League final in the space of four years is still on course, though, no matter what happens here tonight.

DID YOU KNOW? I mentioned a little earlier that these sides had met just twice before prior to this year - the 1974 European Cup final, where Bayern Munich prevailed after a replay; the first time that has happened. That was their first of five triumphs in this competition, making them the third-most successful team of all time, but they have only gone all the way once in the past 15 years. Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, have now lost in all three finals they have competed in.

Group D is one of many groups to have been wrapped up heading into these final set of fixtures; Atletico claiming top spot ahead of Bayern, who must settle for second place for the first time in six years. Rostov and PSV Eindhoven are battling it out for third place, and a place in the Europa League post-Christmas that it brings with it, elsewhere these evening.

Both sides are now out on the field of play, with kickoff just a couple of minutes away. Five changes made by Atletico in total and a handful for Bayern, also, with both sides rotating slightly but still showing plenty of respect to this competition. We will now have a minute's silence to remember those lost in the Colombian air crash eight days ago, before focus turns back to events on the field at the Allianz Arena.

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KICKOFF! We are up and running, as five-time winners Bayern Munich take on three-time finalists Atletico Madrid at the Allianz Arena. The hosts are aiming to rack up a record 15th win here in European competition, while their opponents are seeking a perfect six from six in Group D.

Bayern win themselves an early corner, which drops awkwardly to Costa on the edge of the area for the Portuguese to blast high over the bar. He was on the scoresheet in Rostov last time out, and you always fancy him to really make something happen.

Costa drives the ball in from the left for Oblak to parry away. Could have been a tap-in for a player in red but the ball went to safety in the end. No goal conceded in four games for the visitors in all competitions, remember.

Great atmosphere inside this 75,000-capacity ground, with a firecracker being let off early on - not great when trying to pick out the players! Not sure how many away fans have made the journey, but many would have booked when this looked like being a top-spot decider.

Bayern the side looking on top at the moment, firing in a few shots that have each either been blocked aside or flied over the bar. Atletico shaping up in a 4-4-2, incidentally, with Griezmann and Carrasco staying highest up the pitch.

SAVE! First big moment of this match in an attacking sense, as Carrasco is slipped through on goal by Griezmann with only Neuer to beat. The German keeper was well placed to keep it out near enough down the middle.

Atletico's front two looking very slick at the moment; Carrasco this time attempting to slip it through for Griezmann, only for Hummels to cut out the ball. The visitors should probably be ahead after carving their opponents open.

Lucas Hernandez with a crunching challenge on Robben, who is quickly back to his feet. Bayern not really in full flow thus far, with Atletico looking the more dangerous when they do get the ball in the final third of the field.

SAVE! Another chance for Carrasco to add to his tally for the season, as he holds his run slightly and meets Lucas's left-sided cross on the volley. Again, it was made a little too easy for Neuer, but certainly not the worst attempt.

Atletico having to get bodies back behind the ball to defend, which they are doing with ease at the moment. It is they who have created the only two chances thus far - Neuer twice denying Carrasco from close range.

SAVE! Bayern's best spell of the game so far, as Sanches picks out Costa inside the box. Costa's shot was well kept out by Oblak, who was glad to see Robben fail to find a teammate when crossing the ball back into the mix.

A lively enough opening quarter to this game, then, with a few chances created combined so far. Neuer was needed to twice deny Carrasco from close range, while Oblak has also kept out an angled Costa drive at his front post.

Some silky footwork inside the box ends with the ball falling to Vidal right on the edge of the box, but he gets his contact horribly wrong and the ball rolls through for Oblak to collect. Bayern well on top at the moment.

Play is stopped for a minute or so while Godin undergoes some treatment on the pitch. The centre-back hobbled to the sidelines but is OK to continue for now, but Simeone will not take any risks should he continue to limp around.

Lewandowski scores an absolute replica from the match against Mainz 05 last Friday, when sealing that game late on with a third, to open the scoring at the Allianz Arena. The Polish striker took on a free kick won by Benat 22 yards from goal, sending it over the wall and into the top right-hand corner.

I was in the process of saying how quiet Atleti had kept Lewandowski when that free kick was won, which just goes to show how quickly things can change! The visitors now need a goal, having conceded for the first time in five games.

Since those two Carrasco chances in the opening 17 minutes, Atleti have been unable to really get high up the pitch. Lewandowski wants a pen after throwing himself to ground following a slight touch from Savic, moments after Atleti saw an appeal of their own turned down.

Roles reversed now as Bayern look to counter only for Sanches's pass to lack the quality required to set Lewandowski free. Bayern playing some nice, intricate football in the final third now but not really troubling Oblak.

Koke completely whipped out by two opponents, giving central midfield teammate Gabi the chance to lift the ball into the box from deep. It failed to get past the first man, though, and Bayern barely had to break into a sweat.

The Bavarian giants really dominating possession in this first half, particularly since going ahead through that super free kick. Simeone will not be all that concerned with just the one goal in it, confident that his side can always find the net.

Vidal gets forward into the box, only for his attempted cross to deflect behind for a corner. The hosts knocking on the door for a second, but we have yet to see a shot at either end since Lewandowski opened the scoring.

This first half petering out now, with Bayern happy to knock the ball around without forcing the issue thanks to their earlier breakthrough. Onus on Atletico to pull one back in the second half at the Allianz Arena.

The first half is brought to its conclusion, meaning that Bayern Munich will take a 1-0 lead into the interval. Atletico Madrid created the game's first two chances, but their opponents bossed possession and found a way through just short of the half-hour mark in Bavaria.

With both sides opting to make a handful of changes, it took until the 11th minute of the match before the first real fruitful attacking move of the contest. A flicked through-ball from Antoine Griezmann was latched on to by Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, who failed to get the better of Manuel Neuer from close range when seeking his 12th goal in 14 outings for club and country.

Despite Bayern seeing more of the ball, it was Atleti who created the next big opening soon after when Carrasco held his run perfectly and volleyed Lucas Hernandez's left-sided cross down the middle for Neuer to again keep out in a simple enough manner. That would prove to be as good as things got for the Spanish side in the first half, with Bayern growing more into things and coming close after Douglas Costa found space but saw his shot blocked by Jan Oblak at the front post.

The breakthrough moment arrived just short of the half-hour mark, coming via a Robert Lewandowski free kick - a carbon copy of the one scored late on to seal the points against Mainz 05 last Friday. The ball flew over the wall and past Oblak's reach into the top corner, ensuring that Atleti - who had not conceded in their previous four outings - would have to show a little more attacking impetus. That proved to be it in terms of the first-half chances, so plenty to play for when we get back under way.

Plenty of options for both Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone to call upon in the second half. The hosts have experienced heads in Ribbery, Lahm and Muller to call upon, while Atletico may turn to Gameiro or Torres up top prior to the hour mark.

BAYERN MUNICH SUBS: Ulreich, Ribery, Martinez, Lahm, Muller, Badstuber, Kimmich

ATLETICO MADRID SUBS: Correa, Gameiro, Gimenez, Moya, Teye, Torres, Juanfran

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RESTART! We are back up and running at the Allianz Arena. Still goalless between PSV Eindhoven and Rostov elsewhere in Group D at the midway point, incidentally, so the standings will remain as they were at the start of play as things stand.

A real nasty one for Godin at the start of the second half, as he collides heads with Thiago Alcantara when going in for the ball. The centre-back was also in the wars in the first half - the last thing Simeone wants to see is one of his star players pick up an injury.

Neither manager made a change at the break, incidentally - expect to see a couple of news faces in around 10 minutes. Be interesting to see how long Vidal lasts, but he will surely be one of those to make way among the first raft of alterations.

Waiting for this second half to light up at the moment. Much like in the first half, Bayern enjoying plenty of the ball but they have not created anything from open play since Costa's shot prior to their breakthrough goal.

The eye-of-the-needle pass does not quite come off for Bayern; the ball instead running through for Oblak to collect. So congested in the middle of the park, so going out wide looks like a good option - always in with a shout when Lewandowski is there to head it.

CHANCE! Robben is given a chance to race through, though his run is halted by a covering player. The Dutchman still continued only to see his shot blocked, leading to plenty of abuse aimed in the ref's direction as he did not halt play.

SAVE! Alcantara's corner is met by Costa, who looks to find the net with his finessed shot which ends right down the middle for Oblak to collect. Good to see Bayern finally turn the possession into shots on target!

PENALTY APPEAL! Bayern really stepping up their game over the last 10 minutes, with Oblak having to sweep up another tame shot. Robben was again given space to run into, but he went down inside the box when touched by Savic. Replays show that the contact was very, very minimal.

ATLETICO MADRID SUBS! Simeone makes a double change, bringing on Gameiro and Correa for Gaitan and Carrasco. Gabi then goes into the book for his challenge, becoming the first player to see yellow this evening.

Certainly had its lively moments over the past 10 minutes or so, but this game could do with an Atletico goal to really spice things up. No real intensity from either side at the moment, with Bayern the most likely to find the second.

So much space in the final third for Bayern now, which Sanches, Robben and Lewandowski are looking to expose. It just isn't falling for them at the moment, which could prove costly should Atleti find a leveller in the remaining 25 minutes.

ATLETICO MADRID SUB! Teye - or Thomas Partey; a headline writer's dream - replaces Koke for the remaining minutes. All three changes made by Simeone now, but can this final alteration have more of an impact that the previous two?

Been disappointed by Atletico since they went behind. They were the better team in the opening quarter of this game, creating two chances despite seeing so little of the ball, but since then they have not mustered a single chance.

Still no sign of Ancelotti making any changes to his personnel, despite another crucial Bundesliga game being on the horizon. Oblak is quickly out to deny Robben and Lewandowski from adding a second goal.

Half a chance for Lewandowski - the best he has had since his free-kick opener - after leaping high to meet Robben's cross from the right. The striker got under the ball and headed it well over the bar, while Correa dragged one wide up the other end.

We are now into the final quarter of the game at the Allianz Arena, and there is suddenly a sign of the intensity stepping up a notch once again. Correa's dragged shot has provided a sign that the visitors are ready to now go all out.

CHANCE! An absolute shocker of a miss by Thiago! Benat had acres to run into, making the most of his space before playing in Costa down the left. From there the ball was played across goal, but Thiago incredibly put it over the bar from three yards out.

BAYERN MUNICH SUB! Goalscorer, and likely matchwinner, Robert Lewandowski is replaced by Thomas Muller as we hit the 80-minute mark. Not been the finest of seasons for the incoming German - a chance to put things right.

Ancelotti may be waiting to use those final two subs late on to break up play a little more, with his team not really looking under any pressure at the moment. Atletico need to turn momentum in their favour if they are to steal a point.

Time fast ticking down for Atleti now, who will almost certainly miss out on making it six wins from six now bar a little miracle. They could still steal a point, but even that looks unlikely based on this second-half performance.

BAYERN SUBS! Atletico starting to see far more of the ball now, as Bayern inevitably sit back. Kimmich and Martinez are now on the field, taking the places of Robben and Costa for the final four minutes or so here.

Ancelotti will be fuming if his side do fail to see this one though, considering just how easy they have found life since edging ahead. Simeone will be disappointed by the result as it stands, but it is hardly the end of the world for him and his side.

We are now into added time at the Allianz Arena, where we will play a further four minutes. Still goalless elsewhere in the other Group D fixture, so Rostov will edge out PSV Eindhoven for that Europa League berth - a big shock, that!

Not been a classic game by any means, but it has certainly had its moments. Just a couple of minutes to go now but it looks like Bayern will end Group D on a high, while for Atletico it is a minor setback on their route to the last-16.

The referee blows his whistle for full time, bringing an end to proceedings in Group D. Robert Lewandowski's free kick in the first half proved to be the difference between two of the favourites for the Champions League crown, meaning a record 15th home win in succession in Europe for Bayern Munich. Not such a great nice for Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, who failed to make it a perfect six from six.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Allianz Arena, but be sure to check out this on-the-whistle report before heading off. Plenty of drama across the continent this evening, meanwhile, with reaction aplenty to come over the next hour elsewhere on the site. Thanks for joining!