It’s been a season to remember for both sides for different reasons. While Atletico outclassed everyone’s expectations and made their way to a maiden Champions League final in years, Real Madrid did exactly the same what they were being expected from years. On 25th May in Lisbon, an immovable object in Atletico will face an un-stoppable force in Real Madrid who have scored the fastest 100 goals in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season. While nothing is at stake for Atletico apart from the big prize, pride is at stake for their city rivals as only one trophy this season after a horrendous summer spending spree might be attributed to a failure.
Real Madrid:
As they say past is only for the faint hearted, Real Madrid European trophy wait has gone on almost for a decade now. After winning the Copa Del Ray, everybody thought that this team had the depth to compete for three titles on a stretch. However, following a major win against the German giants away from home, they seemed to lose their plot in the domestic title.
After defeating Lisbon to gain a place in Champions League final, Real Madrid won just one of the remaining three games to surrender the La liga title.
While curtains are still placed on Real Madrid dismal show in the end of La liga, they will be down to bare bones IF similar fate awaits them in Lisbon. That being said, Carlo Ancelloti’s men are going into the final as favourites as they made their way to Lisbon with only one defeat throughout the competition.
Atletico Madrid:
Having started the season as under-dogs, nobody would have claimed that this side will be looking to seal their 2nd major trophy in a space of 14 days come end of May. A balanced approach by Diego Simeone gave them an edge over those sides looking to tear teams apart by shear pace. In a league that is truly dominated by Real Madrid and Barcelona, a recent array of events has given other Spanish sides the hope that they can pull off something similar as-well.
After the 2003-04 campaign, it was the first time that neither Barca nor Real have won the La LIGA title.
After consistently losing players like David Villa, Fernando Torres, and many more to fellow clubs, it was assumed by many that they have become the spoon feeding club for more ambitious clubs. They have just denounced this fact in the most amazing fashion by claiming the title against those clubs whose wage budgets came no-where near them.
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Barcelona
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Real Madrid
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Atletico Madrid
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Summer spending
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70million euros
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162.7million Euros
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29million euros
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Atletico Madrid have been UN beaten in their last 12 matches in the Champions League.
Journey to Lisbon:
Real Madrid:
Real Madrid:
- They have scored 39 goals in Champions League this season.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has been the top scorer this season in this competition with 15 goals.
- Real haven’t failed to score in any of their matches this season in the Champions League.
- Real’s biggest win in the competition this season was against Schalke (6-1).
Atletico Madrid:
- They have not conceded more than 1 goal in any match of their Champions league campaign this season.
- Diego Costa is their top scorer with 8 goals.
- Atletico are the only team that are yet to lose a match in this season’s Champions League.
- They are the 2nd highest scorers this season.
Team News:
As far as the LOS BLANCOS are concerned, both Bale and Ronaldo are fit to start. Bale picked up a knock in training while Ronaldo was unable to play in the last two matches of the league, however both of them are available for team selection ahead of the big match.
Xabi Alonso will be a big miss for Real Madrid, as the Spaniard picked up the yellow card to end his Champions League journey this season. In place of him, the German Sami Khedira is likely to start in that midfield role. And Casillas will start in goal.
Atletico Madrid are forced to land a weaker team in Lisbon, as the Brazilian turned Spanish Diego Costa has been ruled out of the final after that injury against Barcelona at the weekend. The Spaniard will be a big miss as he is leading the goal scoring charts for Atletico with a decent 8 goals in 8 games.
Another player who is a major doubt for Saturday crunch finale is Turkish International Arda Turan. He picked up a knock in the same match and his game was limited to a mere 23 minutes before he got subbed off. However with a somewhat comforting news for Alteti fans, Turan could still make it to the final depending upon a speedy recovery.
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