Atletico meet Real in this year’s Champions League final, which is the first ever final to feature two sides from the same city.
Atletico are fresh off their 1-1 draw against Barcelona at the Nou Camp that won them their first La Liga title in 18 years as Diego Simeone’s men got the point they needed. Although the title win came at a cost as both Diego Costa and Turan left the pitch injured during the game and both are major doubts for the game in Lisbon, a major blow to Atletico’s charge towards a first Champions League title in what would be their first appearance in the final as well.
Real are waiting on the fitness of their main three attacking players in the shape of Karim Benzema, world record signing Gareth Bale and Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Real boss Carlo Ancelotti has said in a press conference that he expects all three players to be fit for the game as they attempt to go for an unprecedented 10th European title.
Star Men
Atletico Madrid: Diego Costa
If the Brazilian come Spanish striker is fit for the final, he will be Atletico’s main goal threat as Costa has clocked up 27 league goals this season and a further eight in the Champions League. With interest coming in from almost every major club in Europe, if he wants to secure his move away from Spain then he will have no choice but to shine on the biggest stage in European football.
Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo
We are all running out of superlatives to use for this man. Ronaldo has been without a doubt the best player in the world this season, finally usurping Barcelona rival Lionel Messi from that throne. Scoring 31 goals in La Liga and a record breaking 16 goals in the Champions League, breaking the previous joint record of the aforementioned Messi, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Jose Altafini. If Atletico are to have any chance of securing their first ever Champions League title then they will have to stop the Portuguese winger.
Road to the final
Both sides haven’t had the easiest of routes to the final as Atletico Madrid met La Liga rivals Barcelona in the quarter-finals, where they managed to beat the Catalan side 2-1 on aggregate in what was a closely fought battle for not only a place in the semi-finals but momentum in the La Liga title race. By knocking Barcelona out at that stage of the competition, Atletico became the first side to knock Barca out of the competition at a stage earlier than the semi-finals in six years.
Real Madrid met Bayern Munich in the semi-finals in a match that many wanted left until the final as many felt that they were the two biggest sides in Europe at the time. Real won the first leg of the tie 1-0 with a Karim Benzema goal to leave everything finely poised for the second leg. What happened at the Allianz no one predicted as Real smashed four past Manuel Neur without reply, making easy work of the German champions. Sergio Ramos and Ronaldo both grabbing two goals on the night.
Atletico Madrid
Group Stages: Group Winners
Round of 16: 5-1 agg vs AC Milan
Quarter Finals: 2-1 agg vs Barcelona
Semi Finals: 3-1 agg vs Chelsea
Real Madrid
Group Stages: Group Winners
Round of 16: 9-2 agg vs Schalke 04
Quarter Finals: 3-2 agg vs Borussia Dortmund
Semi Finals: 5-0 agg vs Bayern Munich