Two years ago, Atletico and Real Madrid played one of the more memorable Champions League finals in recent memory. Los Blancos dominated possession for the first half an hour or so, but Atleti were the ones to strike first. A backwards flick of faith off the head of Diego Godin did the business in the 36th minute, and that goal remained the only change on the scoreboard for the next hour. But deep into stoppage time, Sergio Ramos would head home an equalizer past an outstretched Thibaut Courtois, sending a European Cup final into extra time for just the seventh time ever. From their La Decima was fully grasped by Real, as three goals were scored between the two extra sessions. It was truly a contest to behold and one that will remain steadfast in the minds of both fanbases. However, their sequel this Saturday could be even better.
It was a trying season for both clubs domestically. Although they were in the thick of the La Liga title race for the majority of 2016, neither team was able to usurp Barcelona in the table. Nevertheless, both clubs continued progressing in the Champions League as the eventual Spanish champions fell by the wayside.
Both teams were not granted the easiest of access to the point in the competition either. It was harrowing at times for both clubs, but the perseverance shown by the players, and adeptness at adaptation by the managers, allowed them to get through.
Atletico Madrid’s path almost ended before it started with Dutch side PSV Eindhoven. Two brutal nil-nil draws forced extra time in the second leg. Penalties were inevitable and it came down to the back end of the rotation for each team, and Atleti would scrape by 8-7 on those spot kicks. Next up was just the best team in the world, Barcelona.
Unlike many other clubs, Atletico Madrid didn’t back down from the mighty Blaugrana. Even after losing the first leg 2-1, which saw their goal scorer Fernando Torres get sent off, Atletico Madrid didn’t alter their plan of attack. An Antoine Griezmann brace in the return leg at the Vicente Calderon would push them through into the semi-finals where another European giant, Bayern Munich, lurked.
The Bayern series was probably the first time in the Champions League that Atletico had to somewhat change their style. It wasn’t too drastic, but after winning 1-0 in the first leg on home soil, you could see that Atletico wanted to take an even more defensive stance than normal in Munich. However, that all fell apart once Xabi Alonso’s free kick took a deflection and bounced past Jan Oblak. Oblak would redeem himself minutes later when he saved a Thomas Muller penalty, as well as Alonso’s follow up, to keep the game level on aggregate. An away goal in the second half from Griezmann put the game back in their hands, although they had to sweat it out to the very end after a saved penalty of their own.
After seeing Atletico Madrid’s Champions League journey, Real Madrid’s looks much tamer. But don’t be fooled, Cristiano Ronaldo and company had to work hard to get to the brink of La Undecima.
Roma provided minimal resistance in the Round of 16, but Zinedine Zidane’s men faced an unexpected road block in the quarterfinals in Wolfsburg. The German side had been woefully disappointing in the Bundesliga, and needed everything they had to upend Gent in the previous round. Real returned to the Santiago Bernabeu down two goals and many were wondering if this was the end of both their season and the managerial tenure of Zizou. It turned out to be the exact opposite as Ronaldo netted a hat trick on home soil and the win further sparked their re-ascent towards the top of Spanish football and a Champions League crown.
Similarly to Atletico’s tussle with PSV, goals were at a premium in the semis against Manchester City. In fact, the only goal in either match came off a curled deflection from the leg of Fernando off a Gareth Bale cross that dinked off Joe Hart’s far post and home. It just marked another instance in a remarkable run for this latest batch of Galacticos in which the football gods wouldn’t let them lose.
Now these two clubs of the same city, but of contrasting styles, will meet again with everything at stake. It is the timeless clash of the irresistible force (Real) versus the immovable object (Atletico).
A win for either side would give them a Champions League title haul with a one on the end of it. It just so happens for Real that would be 11 while for Atletico it would just be the 1. But one is also the sum of Real Madrid’s goal tally over two games (one draw, one loss) against Atletico this season.
The two Diegos, Godin in defense and Simeone pulling the strings, are two of the best in the world in molding a formation to neutralize the opposition’s strengths. Godin especially would love retribution for his potential game winner from the 2014 Champions League final being cancelled out. Can Real Madrid bring the same defensive fire to the fold? I don’t believe they can.
So while Real Madrid comes in with the fanfare and the history, Atletico come in with a plan and the pieces to execute it. I don’t think either team is going to be comfortable in the first half, which should make for some chippy, cagey football. But expect the duo of Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres to play as good, if not better, than their counterparts in white in the second half and bring home the trophy to the Vicente Calderon that was so rudely snatched from their grasp just 24 months ago.
Who do you think will win? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @TREVORutley or the site @sportsftb. Be sure to have Gameview going during this contest whether it be with your friends at home or on your phone out at a pub. It is going to be a cracker folks, don’t miss it!