Los Galacticos vs. Los Colchoneros – Champions League final 2014
Last year London turned German during UEFA Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. While this time the Wembley Stadium hosted the play-off final between Derby County and Queens Park Rangers, Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz will be a combat arena for Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid in this year’s Champions League last game.
To read about my last year’s Champions League final experience in London click here
Created in 1903 Atlético is one year younger than its city rival. Both share the same town but what is more important they have a different history and a way to their success. Let’s look at both teams:
- FIRST TITLE: For Real the first official title came in 1905 after they defeated Athletic Bilbao in Copa del Rey. For Atlético it was the win over Real Madrid in Federation Regional Championship in 1921.
- FIRST LEAGUE TITLE: 1931/32 La Liga season belonged to Real Madrid for the first time, while Atlético had to wait another 18 years for the same victory, which happened for them in 1949/1950 season.
- FIRST COPA DEL REY TITLE: As mentioned before it was in 1905 when Real Madrid lifted the King’s Cup for the first time. Atlético on the other hand achieved this victory in 1960 after defeating Real 1:3 on their own stadium.
- STADIUM: While Atlético is working on a new bigger stadium that is planned to be open in 2016 with a capacity of 70,000 spectators, Real’s Santiago Bernabéu has got a capacity of 81,044 spectators already and is the second largest stadium in Spain.
- MANAGER: Argentinian Diego Simeone became Atlético’s manager in 2011 and managed to lead the team to UEFA Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and Copa del Rey titles. Carlo Ancelotti from Italy joined Real just one year ago and managed to win with his team this year’s Copa del Rey final and make them play in tonight’s Champions League final.
Diagrams present a summary of all the result achieved by both teams when played against each other (source: footballzz.co.uk)
Santiago Bernabéu Yeste, one of the most successful Real Madrid’s presidents in honour of whom team’s stadium is named, was one of the co-creators of a tournament called UEFA Champions League today.What is more Real Madrid was the first team to win the tournament – not only its first edition in 1956 but the next four of them as well. On the other hand Atlético’s first final took place in 1974, when they got defeated by Bayern Munich after a two-game battle.
Champions League Finals (2008-2013)
Before tonight’s game Atlético Madrid stands as a current La Liga champion with its first League title since 1996. At the same time Real Madrid stands as a current Copa del Rey champion.
Atlético won La Liga 9 times, while Real won it 32 times.
Atlético won Copa del Rey 10 times, while Real won it 19 times.
Atlético never won the Champions League, while Real won in 9 times.
Is this going to be a victory night for Atlético Madrid, which uplifted by its La Liga win will defeat its rival and reach for its first Champions League title ever? Or is this going to be a 10th Champions League victory for Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the team being cheered up by his fellow countrymen in Portuguese capital?
Madrid’s city rivals went a long way to secure their tickets to Portugal – Atlético beating A.C. Milan, FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC, and Real beating FC Shalke and both Champions League 2013 finalists Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in the knockout phase. Both surely deserve to be in Lisbon and both will fight for glory until the last whistle tonight.
(featured image’s source: theglobalherald.com)
