Previews
MAR 09.05.2017
The moment of truth has arrived. After months of gripping matches, goals and waiting, the day is finally upon us. It is now or never, time to go for broke with a single aim in mind: reaching the Champions League final. So it is that Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will renew their rivalry yet again, with a place in the showpiece in Cardiff at stake. Los Blancos lead 3-0 from the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, but anything is possible in football, especially at the Vicente Calderon, which will be hosting its last-ever European match.
Given their strong home form and the rousing support they are sure to get from the crowd, Los Rojiblancos have not given up hope of turning the tie around. After all, Diego Simeone's men have won 29 of their last 35 European games at the Calderon. What's more, while Sime Vrsaljko and Augusto Fernandez are still out, Yannick Carrasco, Jose Maria Gimenez and Juanfran are all available for selection.
Farewell fortress
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 8, 2017
Atlético have played 102 games at the Calderón in this competition, losing just 4 games (P51 W36 D11). pic.twitter.com/zpCKdUbCCn
Though no two-goal deficit has ever been overturned in the Champions League semi-finals, let alone a three-goal one, Atletico know that this is a special occasion and are determined to rewrite the history books against their bitter rivals. This was Simeone's take at his pre-match press conference: "We have a very difficult match. For many, it's impossible, but for us, it's not."
For their part, Real Madrid, who have been flying both in LaLiga Santander and in Europe, head into the encounter hell-bent on keeping alive their bid to become the first club to retain Ol' Big Ears. "We'll try to go in to the game as we have been doing so far. You have to go out on to the field, try to play and do your best to win the game. Our idea doesn’t change and our way of playing is always to give our best," said their coach, Zinedine Zidane, who has a full squad to choose from with the exception of Gareth Bale and Dani Carvajal.
© LALIGA - 2017