Atletico 'still alive' in battle against Real Madrid and history

Atletico Madrid's French forward Antoine Griezmann reacts at the end of the UEFA Champions League 1st round, group B, football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Club Brugge at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid on October 12, 2022. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)
Atletico Madrid
stare down both bitter city rivals Real Madrid and the weight of history as
they aim to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Los Blancos are
the record 15-time champions, the current holders, and lead 2-1 Atletico in the
last 16 tie as well as seemingly holding a decades-long jinx on Atletico.
The teams have
been paired on five occasions in the history of the competition and Real Madrid
have emerged triumphant every time.
"History
exists, and Madrid's history in the Champions League is extraordinary,"
admitted Atletico coach Diego Simeone before the first leg, with his side still
waiting for a first European Cup.
Most painful for
Atletico were the 2014 and 2016 final defeats in Lisbon and Milan respectively.
Simeone's side
led in stoppage time in the former, but Sergio Ramos's 93rd minute header
forced extra-time, with Madrid running out 4-1 winners.
Two years later
the final went all the way to penalties but Atletico defender Juanfran missed
his spot-kick, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to convert his and mark up another
Madrid triumph.
It was their
third defeat at the last hurdle, after losing against Bayern Munich in the 1974
final, with then-president Vicente Calderon labelling his club "el
pupas" - the cursed one.
Never does that
feel more accurate than when Simeone's side face Real Madrid in Europe.
In the 2017
semi-finals Atletico lost 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg, but
despite taking a two-goal lead in the return, came up short when Isco pulled
one back for Madrid.
In 2015 it took
an 88th minute strike in the second leg by Madrid striker Javier Hernandez to
divide the sides in a tight contest.
Madrid's upper
hand was first placed as far back as 1959, when they beat Atletico 2-1 in a
semi-final play-off, after the home and away ties left the teams level.
However
Atletico's motto is "courage and heart" and with nearly 70,000 fans
behind them at their Metropolitano stadium, they will believe they can write a
new chapter into the history books.
This will be the
first Champions League clash against Real Madrid at Atletico's new home, with
their 2017 final four battle their last ever European game at their beloved
Vicente Calderon stadium.
Simeone said the
first leg was "very tactical" for a Madrid derby, with both sides
cautious in the second half after Brahim Diaz put Madrid 2-1 ahead in the 55th
minute.
Rodrygo Goes
gave the hosts the lead but Julian Alvarez's fine strike levelled for Atletico
in the first half.
Only one yellow
card was shown, to Diaz for jumping into the crowd after scoring what proved
the winner.
However that is
unlikely to be repeated in the all-or-nothing second leg, with Atletico fans
usually whipped into a frenzy by Simeone on the sidelines.
"If it was
difficult tonight, imagine what it will be like next Wednesday," said
Carlo Ancelotti last week, fully aware of the pressure from the stands his side
will face.
Simeone's team
were cautious at the Bernabeu despite trailing because they believed that with
a tight scoreline at the half-way point, they can capitalise at home.
They did the
same last season against Inter Milan at the same stage, losing in Italy but
winning the return on penalties at home.
"Our fans
push us, they give us energy, they make putting in the effort not difficult, and
we need them," said Simeone.
"We are
still alive and we may have a good night on Wednesday."
Star Madrid
forwards Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe were kept extremely quiet in the
first leg but both scored as they beat Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in La Liga to
pull level with leaders Barcelona.
Ancelotti was able
to take off some star names including Mbappe, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham, who
is back from suspension and set to start for Madrid.
Atletico endured
a more painful weekend with two late goals consigning them to a 2-1 defeat at
Getafe, but Simeone said his team would recover in time to face Madrid.
"The
players feel bad because we played a bad match," admitted the Argentine.
"We have to
try to be strong, united, with the hope of improving our game, and we can't
imagine anything else."
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