Robert Lewandowski scores only goal of the game but Atletico Madrid still top Group D

Robert Lewandowski curled in a spectacular free kick to give Bayern Munich narrow win over Atletico Madrid in a Champions League clash between two teams who had already qualified for the knock-out stages.

Bayern’s win stretched its record to 15th straight Champions League home victories and ended Atletico’s hopes of winning all six group matches.

But Atletico still won Group D with 15 points, while Bayern finished with 12 in second.

While Bayern’s win meant nothing for the group outcome, it boosted the German champion’s morale after two straight setbacks against the Spanish side. Atletico eliminated Bayern from last season’s semifinals and again beat the German team at home in the group stage.

Lewandowski scored in the 28th minute after Yannick Carrasco had needlessly given away a free kick. Lewandowski took the shot and curled the ball over the wall and inside the post from 18 yards out for his fifth goal in this season’s competition.

Earlier, Carrasco had forced Manuel Neuer into two good saves for Atletico’s only real chances of the match.

At the other end, Jan Oblak did well to turn away Douglas Costa’s shot from a tight angle.

Arjen Robben had two calls for a penalty denied after the break, while Thiago Alcantara squandered Bayern’s best chance of the match by sending the ball sky high from four meters (yards) out from a low cross from Juan Bernat.

Bayern manager Carlo Ancelotti rested several key players, including Franck Ribery and Philipp Lahm.

Meanwhile, in the other game in Group D, Rostov earned a place in the Europa League by holding PSV Eindhoven to a 0-0 draw.

With both teams already out of contention for a spot in the knock-out stage of the Champions League, Rostov only needed the draw to get into Europe’s second-tier competition and rarely threatened PSV.

Neither side had an attempt on target until Sardar Azmoun shook off Daniel Schwaab in the 67th minute and fired a shot straight at Jeroen Zoet in the PSV goal.

PSV only threatened late after coach Phillip Cocu brought on three attacking substitutes.

Steven Bergwijn finally got PSV’s first shot on goal in the 75th, and Bart Ramselaar came close to stealing the three points in the 86th but his shot was cleared off the goal line by Vladimir Granat.

The Dutch champion finished its Champions League campaign with just two points.

‘We fought today and it wasn’t enough,’ said PSV captain Luuk de Jong.