The last time Madrid's two biggest football teams met in the Champions
League final - just two years ago in
Lisbon - the game had to be decided in extra time after 90 minutes wasn't
enough to separate them, and tonight's contest promises to be even closer.
With the two sides inseparable and many unable to call a favourite in the tie,
we look at where the final may be won and lost.
There will be much talk of the differences between the opponents before they
clash in Milan, particularly with Diego Simeone's fondness for playing up his
side's poor underdog status when they meet, but the fact is that for all their
differences, they currently play a pretty similar style of football.
Just as Atletico have been for the last couple of years with Simeone at the
helm, Real have been a very difficult side to break down since Zinedine
Zidane took charge, playing very compactly at the back and looking to
counter at speed just like their foes.
The question is who will be able to do so best on Saturday, with the
similarities creating a game akin to a chess match, in which any tactical
alterations made by the managers will be crucial.
In 2014's final, Atletico's main deficiency was that they lacked a potent
threat in attack, with Diego Costa coming into the game unfit and having to
leave the pitch after just nine minutes.
Now, however, the men from the Estadio Vicente Calderon head into the final
with one of Europe's most lethal attackers in Antoine Griezmann, and the
Frenchman has none of the injury worries which troubled Costa two years
ago. Similarly for Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to punish the
Atletico defence after looking jaded in the previous final, although questions
over his thigh will persist well into the match itself.
With both sides looking increasingly strong at the back, though, a lot could
depend on which of the two enormous talents can trouble the opposition the
most.
When Real Madrid lifted the aforementioned La Decima in 2014, their rivals
were forced to watch on as Ronaldo tore off his shirt in celebration of a
humiliating fourth goal, with Los Colchoneros having been just over a minute
away from victory before Sergio Ramos took the game to extra-time.
Now, for all the talking down of 'revenge' from the players, Simeone's men
will be desperate to inflict exactly that upon their enemy. The danger might
be for Atletico that they are indeed too desperate, with Real potentially able
to capitalize on their desperation by proving the more collected side, using
the mental edge that beating Atleti twice in key European clashes might give.
On the other hand, if Atletico can use memories of Lisbon as inspiration while
maintaining their calm, Madrid may face a very difficult task in keeping them
at bay.
Real stars face up to failure
If Real Madrid are to call this season a success, they must beat Atletico
Madrid in tonight's Champions League final. Having beaten their city rivals at
the same stage two years ago, to win La Decima, Los Blancos will be
confident of a repeat result at Milan's Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
With Barcelona having won both the other major trophies within Real's reach,
Zinedine Zidane must deliver an eleventh European Cup, despite only taking
charge of the club in January.
Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, who were key men in the victory
over Atleti in Lisbon in 2014, share that sentiment.
"It will be a failure to not win, but we will," said Ronaldo.
"Reaching the final
is nothing without victory at the end," added Bale.
Stars set for set-pieces
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid face each other in the Champions League
final tonight knowing the importance of set-pieces in the match. Atleti can no
longer claim to be as dominant from dead ball situations, but they will have
to ensure they are at their best against their local rivals.
Diego Godin is the main aerial threat of Los Rojiblancos, whilst Tiago, Jose
Gimenez and Fernando Torres also cause danger. However, the loss of
specialists Mario Mandzukic and Raul Garcia means that they now have less
physicality and stature in these positions. Real have scored more goals from
free-kicks, with 13 in comparison to Atleti's six. Gareth Bale has netted 47%
of his goals through headers, while Ramos, Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo are
also equipped in this area.
Both teams will understand the significance of these minor details, as it
would not be the first time that a trophy has been won in this manner.
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