Saturday’s Champions League final has the ingredients to be one of the more memorable finals in recent memory. With Estadio da Luz providing a fantastic backdrop, two clubs from the same city, with very different stories, will vye for the European Champion Clubs' Cup on Saturday.
On one side, you have prestigious Real Madrid. A team built with super stars and all the glamor in the world - the opposite of their neighboring rivals, Atletico. Let’s be honest, Los Blancos are Europe’s royalty and this team is no different. It’s crazy to think this posh club has been striving for La Decima for the past 12 years, with this year being the first time they’ve even reached the final. But it has been a long time coming for Los Blancos supporters.
Then you have blue collar Atleti, hailing from the working class area of Madrid and fresh off their La Liga championship. Led by former player Diego Simeone, Los Colchoneros (the mattress makers) have adopted their manager's scrappy, tireless style of play and it has provided a revival for the club. Just a short three years ago, Atleti finished 10th in La Liga with no real hope in sight. In came Simeone and now the Spanish club has the opportunity to win their fifth title under his wing.
However, both teams are struggling with injuries.
Real Madrid’s Pepe and Karim Benzema status is up in the air for the final, but Los Blancos will have to replace midfield rock Xabi Alonso.
.@MrAncelotti: "Pepe & Benzema are the only two players who are still doubtful for the final. We have to wait and see." #APorLaDécima
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) May 20, 2014
Atleti may now have Diego Costa available, after the Brazilian-born Spanish international received a horse placenta treatment on his lingering hamstring injury. Arda Turan and Costa both trained on Thursday, boding problems for Real.
Diego Costa and Arda Turan trained normally with Atletico Madrid, in their final training session before they leave for Lisbon. #UCLfinal
— FootballFacts101 (@FootballFact101) May 22, 2014
Costa or not, Atleti have shown that they don’t need their 36-time goal scorer to be a threat. The squad may have to look to set pieces to create scoring chances without Costa, but a hard-nosed back line and midfield will pose problems for Real, especially without Alonso. Alonso will most likely be replaced by Sami Khedira who has played just 63 minutes since missing six months to knee surgery. Alonso and Luka Modric feed the attack of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, so it will be interesting to see if Los Blancos sputter in that regard.
It will be a different game for Real compared to their latest UCL competitions against Bayern Munich. Real will hold much more possession and will look for any opportunity to use their lethal counter attack. Here is a pristine example of it:
Atleti are also excellent at winning possession back. The high pressure is similar to Dortmund's style of play, which Real showed they can handle but struggled with in their meetings. When Atleti win possession, they will break with quick passing combinations led by Koke and Arda Turan (if fit). Here's an example of it against Real Madrid earlier this year:
Whatever happens, the match is going to be good. We here at The18 would not be shocked to see this game go into extra time, if not penalties. Will Real Madrid finally get La Decima? Or will Atleti win an unlikely double? Come Saturday, grab a beer and enjoy what will surely be a fantastic final between two teams who live 14 minutes apart.
Prediction: 2-1 Atletico Madrid in extra time.
