Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
The jewel in UEFA’s crown in terms of club competition is upon us Tonight with Real Madrid taking on their cross city rivals Atletico in a repeat of the 2014 Champions League Final. That night Real left it late Lisbon, can Atletico make history in Milan this evening
2 years ago it was heartbreak for Atletico as they were a minute away from a first ever Champions League trophy only for Sergio Ramos to score a header to take the game into extra time. From that point Diego Simeone’s side capitulated and Real ended up running out 4-1 winners to get the much longed 10th European Cup and complete La Decima
Both sides ran Barcelona close in the race for La Liga, Atletico fell at the penultimate hurdle while Real were in the running until the final day. A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo saw them ease past Deportivo that Afternoon but unfortunately for them Luis Suarez was on hand to score a hat-trick against Granada to secure a second successive title for the Catalan side
Real will look to bounce back from that disappointment by ending the season on a high and also by gifting Zinedine Zidane a first major trophy since taking over as Real boss after the sacking to Rafael Benitez earlier on in the season
Credit must go to Zidane though as at one point Los Blancos were all but out of the title race after being a near insurmountable 11 points behind Barcelona. But after an El Clasico win at the Camp Nou they then went on a run of form which saw the gap eventually cut to just a point. Unfortunately for Real and Zidane that one extra point proved be just too much in a bid to win a first La Liga crown since 2012
For Atletico 2014 saw a season of mixed emotions. La Liga success was tempered by the heartbreak of missing out on a Champions League double. With them only finishing 3rd in La Liga this time around could they do the opposite but going on to finally win a much coveted Champions League crown for the first time ever. Twice they’ve lost in the final, will it be 3rd time lucky for Diego Simeone’s side
Real’s build up has been dominated by injury scares. There was a scare for Cristiano Ronaldo earlier in the week but he looks set to start while team mate Raphael Varane wasn’t so luckily. The French Defender has picked up a calf injury which will see him miss out both Tonight and the whole of Euro 2016
As for Atletico with all the focus on Real their build up has gone mainly under the radar but Diego Simeone will probably prefer that. Let Real take the limelight and he can mastermind a win for the underdogs. I say Underdogs but that’s quite an unfair label in all fairness
Let’s not forget they have knocked out Barcelona and Bayern Munich on route to the final and have had the much harder of the two roads to Milan. They are in the final on merit and will fancy their chances tonight just as much as the white half of Madrid
Jan Oblak had a sensational game in the Semi Final second leg against Bayern. He made countless saves that night as he kept a Bavarian onslaught at bay. He’ll have to be just as good if not better Tonight if he is to keep Ronaldo quiet.
The mercurial Portuguese Forward will be looking to add to his already record tally of 93 Champions League goals, that’s not forgetting the fact he has scored 16 alone this season whereas Atletico have scored 17 in the whole compeition
That points to two footballing schools, the craft and wizardry of Real and Ronaldo or the Defensive guile of Diego Simeone’s Atletico. Which will be the side that comes out on top, Attack vs Defence is what it pretty much boils down to
But that’s not to say that Atletico can’t attack when needed. They hit Bayern on the perfect counter in the Semi Final, with Antoine Griezmann scoring a vital away goal to all but secure a trip to Milan. It won’t be an away goal tonight but if the French Forward can do something similar it could very well be the goal which gives them the victory
That’s the preview done now the only task is to sit back and take in what should be a Footballing masterpiece. Enjoy the game as the European club season comes to a close and the European Championships is just around the corner.
