Saul: Solo goal best and most important of career

A 1-0 win for Diego Simeone's side puts them in prime position in their final-four clash with the Bundesliga giants following a wonderful individual goal

Atletico Madrid hero Saul Niguez believes his sensational solo effort against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final was the best and most important goal of his career. Saul scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win at Vicente Calderon after gliding past several Bayern players before curling a shot past Manuel Neuer on Wednesday. The Spain Under-21 international is not well known for his goalscoring exploits but his effort puts Atleti in a good position heading into the return leg at the Allianz Arena next week.On his goal, Saul said: "I was steering through, and I saw there I had lost two opponents, and when I got to the area I hit it with my left to score. "It's definitely the most important and most beautiful goal of my career too. "Bayern are a difficult team so we have to thank all the fans who encourage and support us in every moment. "The return leg is a very important game, but now we have to think about the next game in La Liga." The midfielder fired Atletico Madrid to victory over Bayern Munich with a sensational goal and his team-mate has hailed it as one of the best the competition has seen this term. Filipe Luis says Saul Niguez's character helped him score "one of the best goals" in the Champions League this season after his sensational solo effort secured a 1-0 semi-final first-leg win over Bayern Munich. Spain Under-21 international Saul sauntered past a clutch of Bayern challenges before clipping a shot into the bottom corner after 11 minutes at a raucous Vicente Calderon. Atleltico's trademark tenacity made for an uncomfortable opening half for Bayern, who improved after the interval but could not come any closer than David Alaba's long-range strike crashing off the crossbar. The defining moment of Saul's breakthrough season puts Diego Simone in prime position to clinch a return to the final they lost in 2014 in next week's second leg at the Allianz Arena.

"He is in a brilliant moment," Filipe Luis told BT Sport. "He is a really good guy, young, has his feet on the ground."I think his character helped him to score that goal. It was beautiful football, one of the best goals in this Champions League. We hope he goes higher and higher with this team." The full-back was delighted by Atletico's result against Pep Guardiola's team, but cautiously forecast that the tie remains in the balance. "We are really happy, but we know nothing is done yet. The tie is totally open," he added.

"I could say it's 50-50 because at home they are really strong. They play wider, their pitch is really fast and they are going to have a lot of chances.