Champions League Semi-Final 1st Leg Preview: Real Madrid – Atletico Madrid

By El Maestro

A fourth straight season taking on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. We all remember how the last three encounters went.

Champions League Final 2013/2014: Real Madrid 4 – 1 Atletico Madrid

Champions League Quarter-Finals 2014/2015: Real Madrid 1 – 0 Atletico Madrid (total 2 legged aggregate)

Champions League Final 2015/2016: Real Madrid 1 (5) – 1 (3) (won on penalties)

There encounters, three victories for Real Madrid.

Real Madrid look to become the first team to win two straight Champions Leagues since the competition was rebranded in the early 90s, while Atletico Madrid hope to finally bring home the only trophy that has eluded them for so many years. There really isn’t much to explain when it comes analyzing both teams.

Atletico may not have the same quality players as Real Madrid, but they should never be underestimated. Defensively, we all know that they’re a well organized side that’s hard to score goals on. In attack, they have arguably one of the five best players in the world in Antoine Griezmann, Saul has stepped up in midfield to score some crucial goals this season, Koke looks to have regained his old form and have been a pivotal figure in driving the midfield and both Yannick Carrasco and Kevin Gameiro have given the team additional goal providers.

On paper, Real Madrid are clearly the better side. However, the question is which Real Madrid will we get. Will it be the one that ran riot against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena or the one that let Barcelona back in the La Liga race.

Despite Madrid’s impressive record against their local rival in the Champions League, it’s Atletico that’s had Real Madrid’s number in all Spanish competitions. Real Madrid may have beaten Atletico 0-3 in the Calderon in the first league encounter back in November, but before they hadn’t beaten Atletico in La Liga since the 2012/2013 season. In that time, Atletico beat Madrid four times in La Liga, eliminated them from the 2014/2015 Copa del Rey, and won the 2014 Spanish Super Cup.

That being said, it’s Real Madrid with the psychological advantage in the Champions League. Real Madrid want to become the first team to win two straight Champions League titles, but all the pressure in this tie is on Atletico Madrid for three reasons:

• Real Madrid have more chances of returning to the semifinals next season than Atletico Madrid.
• Real Madrid don’t need to worry about bragging rights since they already beat Atletico on three different occasions.
• Atletico Madrid hate Real Madrid more than Real Madrid hate Atletico Madrid. Henceforth, the pain of losing is much greater for Atletico Madrid players and fans.

Real Madrid are the favorites in this series as a result of their squad and record against Atletico in the Champions League. However, once the game starts, it’ll be a war on the field and both sides will do everything they can to be in the final.

Let’s just hope it’s Real Madrid playing the final in Cardiff on June 3rd.

HALA MADRID Y NADA MAS! 

 

 

Lack of Attitude My Ass

By El Maestro

What do Zidane and a broken record have in common: they both repeat things over and over. Hearing Zidane’s post game press conferences this season after Madrid draw reminds me of the 1993 movie Groundhog Day where Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray) wakes up every morning on the same February 2nd day to the same song and radio transmission. This season, every time Real Madrid has dropped points, Zidane has used the same excuses.

• Lack of attitude.
• Lack of Intensity.
• Lack of focus.
• Lack of energy.
• Etc.

I understand that Zidane is trying not single out any of his players, but the reason behind Madrid’s struggles is very simple. It’s not a lack of attitude or the fact that the star players have a guaranteed place in the starting 11 each week. It’s the fact that there is a lack of balance in the team. Where does that balance lie: holding midfield position. In other words, since Casemiro has been injured, the team has lost its shape. Of course you still need your best players in defense and attack, but a holding midfielder is what gives a team its balance between defense and attack. A holding midfielder takes pressure off the defense, allows the attacking midfielders to be creative, and let’s the forwards focus more on attacking.

I find it funny how so many fans can fall for the “lack of attitude” argument. Lack of attitude can occur with big clubs when they take on more moderate teams, but only on a few occasions. Once the same negative results are repetitive, then the problem must surely be somewhere else. Let’s think about, how can the same group of Madrid players have little motivation to beat a strong Villarreal side (4th last season) in the Santiago Bernabeu (ended 1-1), and yet find that lost inspiration to thrash Legia Warsaw at that same venue. If it is a lack of attitude, then Zidane is a bad coach or these players are the worst professionals of all time, which I don’t think is the case. When Barcelona or Bayern Munich won the treble, do people think they won it simply because they had better attitude than the other team, NO! It’s because they were well balanced and organized, which allowed them to play better than their opponents. We can even use Real Madrid’s Zidane team from last season as an example. During Zidane’s first two months in charge, Madrid wasn’t playing well and had dropped 7 points to Betis, Malaga, and Atletico Madrid. It was also during that time that I heard the same excuses of lack of attitude, intensity, etc. It all changed in early March when Casemiro was included in the starting 11. From that moment on, the team regained its balance and were playing much better. Ironically, I didn’t hear the old excuses of “lack of attitude” from that point on. The holding midfielder is more important than people think, but don’t ask me. Just look at some of the top teams across Europe: Bayern Munich (Xabi Alonso), Barcelona (Busquets), PSG (Krychowiak), Manchester City (Fernandinho), Atletico Madrid (Gabi)

However, the problem is not that Casemiro isn’t playings, it’s the fact that there is no one to replace him. Zidane is still determine to put Kroos in that position, but he’s shown on numerous occasions he can’t play as a holding midfielder. The only midfielder that is a better fit in that position is Kovacic. He’s not a natural holding midfielder, but he can do the job very well. The other option would be to put one of the center backs in that position, though it won’t be possible now because of the injuries. Regardless, Zidane still continues to put Toni Kroos as a holding midfielder. Let’s just hope two things:

1. Casemiro get’s back soon.
2. Zidane comes to his senses and signs another holding midfielder in January (hoping FIFA doesn’t uphold the transfer ban on Madrid).

HALA MADRID!!!

 

The Champions League Final

By El Maestro

The dream of winning the ‘la Decima’ may finally become a reality this Saturday in the Stadium of Light (Estádio da Luz) in Lisbon. After a season with numerous ups and downs, Real Madrid find themselves in the final against cross city rivals Atletico Madrid. By strength of squad and depth, Madrid is clearly the favorite, but that doesn’t mean it will be an easy win. In fact, it is because of that exact reason why I am more concerned about this game than the semifinal against Bayern. As the last three games and most of this season has shown, Madrid usually takes the favorite card way too seriously. Leading to shocking results, such as the 2-0 lose in Dortmund after winning the 1st leg 3-0. However, this is the opportunity to win the Champions League and I’m sure the players will be highly motivated, but Atletico is a worthy opponent and should be respected. Not to mention the final is 50 Derbis in one, which means the winner will have ultimate bragging rights. Atletico has no where near the team Madrid has, but they have two things that has allowed them to have this incredible season.

1. Diego Simeone

2. Heart of a Warrior

Never have I seen a team as limited as Atletico and accomplish so much. There is no major difference between Atletico and Valencia; yet ‘los Colchoneros’ have won the ‘la Liga’ while Valencia have not even qualified for the Europa League. Atletico is exactly a team of ‘little warriors’: a short squad that leaves their heart out in every game. Questions continue to surround whether Diego Costa and Arda Turan will play, but that won’t matter. Atletico will still be that aggressive, hard-nose side they’ve been all season. Regardless, Madrid just has to do one thing if they want to win: show up. No matter how much heart Atletico has or what ideas ‘Cholo’ has up his sleeves, Madrid is miles better and will beat them as long as they play to their full 100% potential. Real Madrid is more than capable of winning even with CR7 at less than 80% and without Xabi in midfield. Out of the four Derbis played this season, Madrid has only played the full 90 minutes in the Copa del Rey semifinal 1st leg: 3-0 victory. ‘La Decima’ is within reach and it will be touring the Bernabeu if Madrid respects Atletico, play the way they know and leave it all on the field.

¡Hala Madrid!

¡A por ‘la Decima’!