Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
This is it what we call the “business end” of the season, as we reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. For the four teams left in the competition know that they are just two matches away from reaching the football Holy Grail, which is the final in Cardiff at the start of June.
We are treated to a fourth annual clash of Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid, and Diego Simeone’s men will be looking to finally avenge their cross-town rivals, as the three previous encounters have not been favorable to Atletico.
It has been final heartbreak in 2014 and 2016 for Atletico, and they had to do with a 2015 quarterfinal exit to Real. So they are certainly looking for some form of revenge over the next couple of weeks, with that revenge being dumping Real out of the competition and stopping them from being the first ever side to defend the trophy in the Champions League era. Should Real, however, go on to win this semi-final encounter, then they will move one step closer to winning a record 12th title across both the European Cup and the Champions League.
Real will go into the game as close favourites, but there has been very little to choose from between these two sides in the previous head-to-heads that they have had over the past three seasons. Atletico nearly had their name on the trophy in 2014, only for Sergio Ramos to score a late header to force the game into extra time. While in 2016 Atletico were ultimately masters of their own downfall after Antoine Griezmann’s failure from the spot. If you are offered a rare opportunity by Real, then they are ones you have to take, as you will eventually be punished for your wastefulness. Can it finally be fourth time lucky for the Vicente Calderon outfit this time around?
Zinedine Zidane’s men come into this game second in La Liga on the same points as their arch rivals Barcelona but they do still have a game in hand against Europa League Semi Finalists Celta Vigo to be scheduled, that arguably is going to be the difference maker in regards to the title run in.
They managed to stay hot on Barcelona’s heels on Saturday night with a home win over Valencia. It looked at one point as if the points were slipping away but thanks to Marcelo’s late strike with just four minutes remaining it meant that they would snatch all three points at The Bernabeu.
Meanwhile Atletico come into this game with their tails very much up as they thumped Las Palmas 5-0 at the weekend, that win keeps them third in the table but not only that all but secures another appearance in the Champions League next season.
They’ve also good news recently with the fact that Lucas Hernandez has agreed a deal at Atletico Madrid, by putting pen to paper he has committed his future to the club until 2022. That is one French player staying but can they hold on to their main man Griezmann in the Summer.
Not if you believe reports that Manchester United are set to offering him a wage of £300k to bring him to Old Trafford but the move is not a given as it depends on two things. Whether United qualify for the Champions League next season and also not forgetting that Atletico could win the competition this season.
If they are to do so then they are going to have to dispose of their arch rivals over two legs, snatching an all important away goal this evening would set the return leg up very nicely. Real will look to shoutout Atletico so perhaps don’t expect all that much in terms of goals. I reckon it’s going to be a tight home win for Real.
