The Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League brings an exciting clash as Real Madrid hosts Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
As the defending champions of this prestigious tournament, Real Madrid will look to assert their dominance, while Atletico Madrid aims to make a strong impression after being eliminated in the quarter-finals last season.
This encounter will be the 10th meeting between these fierce rivals in the European Cup/Champions League and the fifth time they have faced off in the knockout stages.
Historically, Real Madrid has been successful in these knockout encounters, progressing in all four previous meetings.
However, Atletico Madrid has found recent success against their cross-town rivals, winning their last two matchups in the UEFA Super Cup.
Real Madrid enters this match as the clear favorites, yet Atletico has proven to be a tough competitor, having not lost at the Santiago Bernabeu in their last three visits.
This adds an intriguing layer to the matchup as both teams prepare to battle for supremacy.
In terms of all-time statistics, the two sides have met a total of 238 times.
Real Madrid holds the upper hand with 116 victories, while Atletico has won 59 times, with 63 matches ending in a draw. This historical context adds to the anticipation surrounding the upcoming match.
Regarding team news, Real Madrid will be missing key players due to injuries, including Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, and Jesús Vallejo.
Additionally, Jude Bellingham is suspended for this leg. On the other side, Atletico Madrid will be without Koke and Cesar Azpilicueta, but they do not have any suspensions to deal with.
Both managers shared their thoughts leading into this highly-anticipated encounter. Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach of Real Madrid, emphasized the importance of playing well to gain an advantage for the second leg.
He stated, “We’re not thinking about winning by a certain margin because that’s not feasible. It’s going to be a hard-fought tie and it will be decided in the second leg.” Ancelotti acknowledged the competitive nature of Atletico Madrid, suggesting that the match will be tightly contested.
Diego Simeone, the manager of Atletico Madrid, expressed mutual respect for their rivals. He noted, “It’s a match filled with a lot of respect, against a great rival.
I understand that they respect us in the same way.” Simeone highlighted the significance of the match for both teams and the city of Madrid, stating it is a spectacular event for Spanish football.
As the two teams prepare to clash, fans can expect a thrilling and competitive encounter that showcases the intensity of the Madrid Derby.
Source:Penty Dzidzor Newton
