Real and Carlo Achelotti face city-rivals Atletico Madrid in a defining Madrid derby in the 2nd leg of their Champions League last 16 tie.
It’s the clash of the Madrid Titans – the Metropolitano Stadium, also known as Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium host city rivals, Real Madrid, on Wednesday night, after a late winner at the Bernabeu by Brahim Diaz last Tuesday, sticking a dagger in the heart of their bitter rivals.
Wednesday’s fixture brings long-lasting fond memories for Simeone and his men as far back as 2014, 2016(finals), and the 2017 semi-finals.
It promises to be a “showdown in Madrid”, as the winner will either face Arsenal or PSV in next month’s quarter-final.
Home favours Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone’s men will be arriving in this game with high hopes – having lost just one of the last seven home games against their bitter rivals. Atletico have recorded a solid display against Real Madrid in cup competitions; going unbeaten in the previous five meetings, winning four against Real.
Wednesday’s fixture should be a must-win again if they are to have a chance of progressing, following last week’s defeat. In six previous occasions, the Los Colchoneros have lost the first leg in a Champions League knockout encounter, but they have still managed to advance three times, with all of those turnarounds coming at home in the second leg.
Atletico’s remarkable home form in Europe establishes how difficult this second leg awaits the current champions – to make it even scarier, the hosts have not lost at home in the knockout stages of the Champions League in 28 years, going unbeaten in 18 matches since Ajax won at the Vicente Calderon in March 1997 – to cement their claim, Diego Simeone saw his men managed a come-back at this stage last season when they overturned a one-goal deficit to beat Inter Milan in the last-16 a year ago.
Real Madrid will Rely on Experience and Pedigree
Real Madrid has struggled to win away at Atletico in Europe in three previous encounters, but their experience and pedigree in this competition still make them the favorites to move to the next stage of the competition come Wednesday; especially after becoming the first club to play 500 and win 300 after last week’s win.
The Los Blancos have only failed to advance once in 22 previous ties when they have won the first leg – and under “Don” Carlo, they’ve won nine out of nine.
Injuries are a Menace
Rodrigo De Paul limped off at half-time in their loss away to Getafe with a muscular concern – his substitution only looked precautionary – he is expected to make the starting XI on Wednesday. However, Clement Lenglet suffered an injury during the warm-up before Atletico’s defeat against Getafe at the weekend, and was replaced by Jose Gimenez in the starting lineup, whereas Koke is still sidelined for Wednesday’s feisty encounter.
On the other side of Madrid, Ancelotti and his medical staff continue to wait patiently for Dani Ceballos, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao’s absence, but Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois should be back after they were not involved in the weekend win over Rayo.
See Who is Back!
Jude Bellingham joins the team in a return from a suspension that ruled him out for the 1st leg. The Englishman is likely to start in central midfield on his return. This will be a massive boost for Ancelotti and his men who need extra legs centrally to combat their rivals after almost being outplayed in the middle of the park in the first leg at the Bernabeu.
The Protagonists
Vinicius Jr. and Julian Alvarez lead the race in the Madrid encounter with seven goals each out of a possible 9 – with the Brazilian only ahead of his South American counterpart with two more assists (3) to his name. Be rest assured this game will surely brim with excitement; anticipating goals from very prolific forwards from both sides.
We can not discuss goals without mentioning Kylian Mbappe. His 55 goals in 84 UEFA Champions League games is no easy feat; taking the competition by storm since bursting onto the scene with Monaco in 2016/17.
The Frenchman by his own standards found life difficult at the start of the season at the Spanish capital but has quickly navigated his way back to his very best in La Liga and in the Champions League – bagging seven goals with 2 assists in 11 games in the Champions League so far.
Another name on the lips of many is Rodrygo. It is no easy feat to rub shoulders with the very best in a Madrid shirt; especially for a player as young as Rodrygo. His 25 goals for the Los Blancos in 61 games places him among the top ten (8th) in the list of the club’s all-time goal scorers in the European competition.
The 24-year-old has recorded five goals and 2 assists in 9 appearances in this year’s competitions to back this claim. The Brazilian, even in his worst moments, can conjure something out of nothing when playing in the competition – the current champions will be looking up to him on Wednesday night if Real are to make it in the away fixture.
The End Justifies the Means
It is widely known that Los Blancos are the masters of this competition and they seem to always find a way through even if their backs are against the wall. The game’s odds seem to tilt towards the way of the visitors as the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. are so devastating in transition – also flanked by Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo.
We can all agree that playing the second leg at home is usually a massive advantage for any side when it comes to knockout football. And Atletico will look to use the crowd as the 12th man in their attempt to progress ahead of their bitter rivals – taking their overall wins in the Madrid derby to 60.
