The most anticipated match on the football calendar, the UEFA Champions League final stage is set. The San Siro will host the rematch of the 2014 final where the battle for the throne of Europe rests on the outcome of the Madrid Derby. Here's a snapshot as excitement levels rise in Milan.
Needless to say, the clubs have an intense and rivalrous history but with the most recent seasons under Diego Simeone’s teachings, Atletico Madrid have firmly established themselves as a third Spanish superpower. However, it was the Galácticos who triumphed in 2014 in glorious fashion.
A stoppage time header from Sergio Ramos leveled the scores before Real stomped on Atletico (and their fans’) hearts to a 4-1 victory. And after scoring the penalty for the fourth goal, Cristiano Ronaldo got the moment he was dreaming of for years (having the world ogle at him shirtless);
Suffice to say, Diego Simeone will have his team seething with the opportunity for revenge on Saturday. Naturally, the most prestigious club competition in the world is decorated with all sorts of underlying factors beyond the football itself. Such as the fact that Atletico Madrid are chasing their first ever Champions League title while Real Madrid are after their 11th. And having only arrived in January, Zinedine Zidane is in his first ever season as a manager and has already managed to rip his trousers twice with formidable enthusiasm.
Another man under an immense amount of pressure is Mark Clattenburg who primarily officiates in the most physical league in the world. He could either let the game flow and tolerate the physicality while avoiding having to send anyone off (barring something reckless). Or he may elect to assert his authority and book early challenges to let the players know not to get too rowdy.
This is where Atletico’s midfield will look to make their mark. No matter who starts, they all will be pressing and closing down space as they hunt down Modric and Kroos. Zidane will likely field Casemiro between them in order to relieve some defensive responsibility, however, the key battle Real Madrid will need to win is breaking Atletico’s press with penetrating balls forward. They have two stellar passers in Modric and Kroos but rest assured, Simeone’s soldiers will be snapping at their heels the entire 90.
In attack, it really is an embarrassment of riches with Real’s luxurious front three of Karim Benzema (41million euros), Gareth Bale (100million euros) and Cristiano Ronaldo (94 million euros). Atletico’s fullbacks will have to be at their very best and most disciplined. Conceding free-kicks near their area with the likes of Bale and Kroos would not be advised while we’re all aware of the lethality in Cristiano’s penalties.
Atletico can boast talent of their own with Fernando Torres, who is becoming a talisman at his boyhood club and has scored some important goals against Real Madrid (like his brace in 2015). Along with him, Antoine Griezmann has staked his claim as a world-class striker by bagging 32 goals in 50 appearances this season. With a counter-attacking strategy likely from Simeone, these forwards can be clinical, however if their service is poor from the midfield they may be isolated too easily and pose minimal threat.
In hope of a prescient summary, Diego Simeone’s troops will be defensively disciplined and aggressive in the pursuit of the ball, I say Koke and Co will be too hot to handle for the Real midfield and Atletico eventually triumph to a 2-1 victory*.
* - That is if they manage to stay 11 vs 11.
