Escorp's Pre-Match Analysis!
You must be registered for see images
v/s
You must be registered for see images
Champions League Final - Real Madrid v/s Atlético Madrid
Estádio da Luz- Lisbon | 24/05/2014
You must be registered for see links
You must be registered for see links
Tonight is the night! An all-out Spanish derby to pull down the curtains on what has been a pretty blistering Champions League in one of the most solid-quarter finals on paper. So, needless to say, the 2 teams who are fighting tonight are high-quality teams who have produced top-class football to reach here and pull aside other great teams. But as was said above, as much as these 2 clubs breathe football, the atmosphere from which that passion is breathed couldn't have been more different.
One city but two cultures. Two clubs but one trophy. Two great but ultimately one winner!
As I did last year (because I think I covered it pretty well), let me start the analysis with both team's Road to the Final!
Real entered the campaign with sky-high expectations in their new quest for La Decima and again, as one of main favorites. Well, nothing new in that, right? Perhaps but that's different when the latest player to arrive in your side, is made the highest-paid transfer in football. Different when your best player is in such inspiring form that he's undoubtedly the best player in the world. Different when a new coach who focus on squad cohesion as a priority comes to replace a coach who always stumbled before the final step to the final for 3 seasons. And undoubtedly, lots of credits needs to go Ancelotti but more on that, later. Pitted in a group where mainly the historical pedigree of Juventus posed issue, they started the campaign on hot reels with a 1-6 victory against Galatasaray and never looked back. The victories against København and Juve ensured that their second-legs in group stage will be fairly easy and they naturally secured the first place with 16 points - undefeated! The true questions were posed in the Last 16 stage against Shalke. Not that Shalke is any major heavyweight but Real's troubles against German have been so well-documented in the past that pessimism was here among certain. Well, certain but not in Real's players' head. Their response couldn't have been more emphatic. The BBC trio of Benzema-Bale-CR7 destroyed Shalke on German soil; as the aggregate ended 9-2. Their wonderful counterattacking performance at Santiago Bernabeu against their dream-crushers of last season was another great performance. A 3-0 delivered with class as the German curse seemed to be definitely be in the past. Yet, their only dark point in this tournament would be the return leg against Dortmund; where a calamitous first half performance almost cost them the great lead of the 1st leg. Still, amongst all the sweaty fears, they progressed to the Semis. A Semis against the soon-to-be-former Champion, Bayern! What followed however was a true power showoff with ruthless counterattacking bravura performance, as Bayern crashed out with a 5-0 agg. defeat, tails behind, cowered down by all-mighty Los Blancos! An extraordinary performance to put foot into the final. A Road to Lisbon then, largely through their extermination of German brightest!
For Atletico, it is obviously a dream run; given how they were never expected to be at this stage. While they also topped their group undefeated with 16 points against the likes of Zenit, Porto and Austria Wien with consistency in their performance, few could have envisioned that they'll reach the near-pinnacle with that start. Their victory against the experienced Milan certainly showcased their progress; especially with their 4-1 return victory. But against one of the lowliest Milan side, this was not the reference victory yet that a finalist needs to have. That marquee victory came against Barcelona. After a 1-1 nil at Camp Nou where so many European greats have fallen,they defeated Barca 1-0 in the return leg to advance against a club that has so often been in the final stages. Their last obstacle was Mourinho's Chelsea; and literally was it an obstacle. As the defensive heroics of the Blues held them in the first leg, they made a great comeback in return leg with an quick-fire 3 goals that made the dream a reality!
So who's favorite? Putting my hand in fire, I'd say Real Madrid!
While Atletico are a very good team, at this final stage. Their historical experience and pedigree with the given stakes, are certainly something to tilt the balance for me.
But that is not to say that Atletico have no chance. But it's a tight call:
- Both teams have secured glory domestically. Atletico already sealing an amazing Liga campaign on top while Real were crowed with Copa Del Ray!
- Both teams play amazingly counter-attacking football with 2 great coaches!
- Real failed to win against Atletico in the Liga, but squeezed them apart in the Copa!
- Last year, they also played a final in the Copa Del Ray against each other; where Madrid misfired completely. But can they misfire now when they are aiming for the 12 year-long await for La Decima?
There's a chance for everything!
But they can perhaps rest their hopes on Cristiano Ronaldo as usual. The Ballon D'Or is in his finest form in his career; already breaking the number of goals in a single CL campaign before setting foot in Lisbon! However, the Portugal captain certainly has a sour memory of Estadio da Luz; with a Euro 2004 final defeat as one of his saddest memories on a football pitch! But they say that grieving memories may just reinforce the will to succeed, and knowing the roll that he is right now, this certainly sounds more like a prophecy than hypothetical metaphor. With Bale and Benz by his side, havoc will surely be created further more. But I'd personally put emphasis on Modric first; who have mindblown me all-season with a total maestro performance. For me, he is hands-down the best central midfielder and I'd debate anyone on that, even if I seem to overstate! His performance have been nothing short of magnificent - he is the heart of that midfield. And all heart and brain needs a lung to be efficient. Lung embodied by an ever-improving Di Maria - revived by Ancelloti as he also makes claim of being one of Madrid's best player. But that midfield will be without its brain tonight as Xabi is suspended. A defense that has been fairly good in this CL campaign - with Saint Iker majestic in CL nights and Carvajal being impressive as replacement of Arbeloa! The strength of the squad is no surprise but it's how they gel now that's been the X-factor. And credits goes to Ancelloti for that! An inherent coach to build relations with immense tactical nouns, he certainly looks like THE man to deliver La Decima!
Atletico is a team through team cohesion though. While their talisman is Diego Costa who replaced their star departure of Falcao, it's hard to accredit any laurels of Atletico's achievements to a sole player! The whole team playing amazingly well with an extraordinary work-rate in midfield, a will to attack, a solidarity in defense and one of the most promising young goalkeepers in Courtois. All that, under the touch of an amazing coach like Simeone.
All-in-all, the match on the field will be a tight one and nail-biting from end-to-finish imo. Just like predicting its outcome is tough,predicting which team got the momentum is equally tough. Real has that immense dream of La Decima while Atletico will also be boosted of securing a great underdog glory 1 week after securing another dream of La Liga! While both teams have their own motivation, this also means its own pressure. The proper momentum will only be generated by the team who not is more motivated, but also who is less dampened by pressure.
Tactically, while both teams play similar counter-attacking football, Real will certainly try to hold the right string from the start, given that they should not fail! But in case, they need to make the plays without being able to play their usual gameplan or if they were to chase the game, this could certainly be problematic. The absence of Xabi is an issue. The midfield battle is going to be key. While Modric is extraordinary, how he fares against one of the most solid trios of Koke-Tiago-Gabi is going to be determinant in the match. Khedira is a great player, but the partnership Modric shares will certainly be missed. One player that Atletico will definitely miss though is Arda Turan who didn't even make it till the bench. But stars are galore and we nears the moment of a great finale!
Atletico Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe; Gabi, Tiago, Koke, Raul Garcia; Villa, Diego Costa.
Subs: Aranzubia, Alderweireld, Mario Suarez, Cristian Rodriguez, Sosa, Diego, Adrian Lopez.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Coentrao; Khedira, Modric, Di Maria; Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale.
Subs: Diego Lopez, Pepe, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Isco, Illarramendi, Morata.
With my terrible predicting stats, I won't say a score! But I'd opt for a close Madrid victory score!
