2014 European Champions' League Final Special

For the first time in the history of the European Cup, two clubs from the same city have been pitted against each other to fight for the right to be called Champions of Europe and to a certain extent, champions of Madrid. The last time Real Madrid was in a final was 12 years ago. The last time Atletico was in a final was 40 years ago. It's been a long wait for both clubs. One city is at the center stage of European Football and when the day arrives, it shall be divided.

The Red and White Corner: 

Atleti's story has been sort of a fairy tale since the arrival of Simeone in the 2011/2012 season. Prior to his arrival, Atleti hadn't beaten their city rivals since 1999 in all competitions. Things have changed now. Diego Simeone's side have not only ended their run of poor results by beating Real Madrid to win the 2013 Copa Del Rey final, they've also won the Europa League (2012) and the La Liga title (2014) in a league that boasts of 2 of the best sides in Europe. What's more remarkable is that he took over the side when they were 10th in the league. Then again we consider the sale of Falcao and the fact that he had to use a lean budget to bolster his side with substitute players means that this man has done the impossible. 

The White Corner:

"I owe you a Champions League final and I won't fail you", were the words Ronaldo uttered after losing to Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi final in May of 2012. 2 years on and he has delivered. Real Madrid eliminated this same Bayern Munich this time with 5 unanswered goals in 2 legs despite the Bavarians dominating possession in both games. Real Madrid was the team that didn't need much of the ball to do damage. Carlo Ancelotti is the leader of the pack of this Madrid team and comes in with a wealth of experience being one of 5 managers in modern football with 2 Champions League trophies under his belt. This Madrid side have been to 3 semi-finals in the last 3 years before this year's competition. They had to get it right this time. La Decima has been a dream for a dozen years. Is Madrid tired of sleeping this time? Are they ready to live their dream?

The match-up: 

On paper, Real Madrid have the stars. They can boast of so many Galacticos who'll dominate any team they feature in. Atleti don't have the names but have the balls. Head to head, position by position, there's no competition for Les Merengues. But Atleti have proven too many times this season that they can do the impossible; beating  Jose Mourinho's Chelsea 3-1 on aggregate and stopping Barcelona from recording a win against them in 6 games this season allowing only in just 3 goals. Atleti also have the best defence in Europe this season conceding just 6 goals to Real Madrid's 9. Throw in the quality of sides they've faced this season and a record of having reached the final without a loss means that Simeone's men can do it all. Real Madrid is no small side either. On the 29th of April, they traveled to Munich and stamped their presence on Bayern's four-t. That was Pep's biggest defeat in the game. Madrid had eliminated the outright favorites in this season's competition with slick, fast paced counter-attacking football. 

We know what both teams are capable of. We've seen them in their best and worst. We've seen Diego Costa bulldoze through defences with Koke being the engine to this mean machine. We've also seen Bale and Ronaldo tear defences apart with blistering speed making Bolt and Blake question their tags as the fastest duo in the world. Courtois has had so many saves, he could single-handedly save the world from our oppressors and Modric, with his diminutive stature, has been able to marshal Madrid's midfield better than most World World War 2 officers ever did in their field. 

The Stats:

24th May 2014 is the day that has been set for El Derbi Madrileño. Both teams have crossed the Rubicon. Atleti come into the final unbeaten with 9 victories and 3 draws while the white team in the other corner come in with 10 victories 1 loss and 1 draw. Casillas hasn't lost a final in which he's started for Spain and Real Madrid in 14 years he also hasn't  lost a game to Atleti in 15 years in all competitions. Both teams have a trophy eating them off Barca's plate. Real Madrid have a goalscoring ratio of 3.08 goals per game to Atleti's 2.08. At the other end of the field, Atleti allow in 0.5 goals per game as compared to Madrid's 0.75. This infographic from SBOBET says it all.

"Stats don't play football" is a popular saying from where I come from however, it's the style of the teams over and over again that produces these stats. Nevertheless, anything can happen in a final. Some will crumble under the pressure while others will rise to the occasion. 

What to expect:

Expect the improbable. We've seen so many finals that have ended with a mixture of sorrow, pain, joy and excitement carefully brewed in barrels that last days. Whatever we're served, we drink. Real Madrid's front trio of Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema have mastered the art of intertwining and carefully pulling defenders out of position with their movements whenever they're on the ball. They come up against the meanest defence in Europe. A side that don't park the bus but go out and take the ball from their opponent's feet like it was theirs. Godin has been a rock at the center of this unit wowing many admirers week in week out. The question of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object comes to mind but I'll save the physics lectures for later. 
Conversely, Diego Costa and his band of brothers which includes the mighty Leonidas (Arda Turan) and Koke have terrorized defences with fewer goals which have been achieved through sheer will to succeed. They have to find their way through the same defence that has improved from conceding 18 goals in last season's competition to 9 goals this term. 
Both teams have been fairly consistent this season and this is how their teams have been shaped. We're likely to see a 4-3-3 system for the Carlo's men with Simeone opting for his favoured flat 4-4-2 formation.
It's unlikely Diego Costa, Pepe and Arda Turan will play but don't rule anything out just yet. Diego Costa is in Serbia in search of alternative medicine to be fit in time for the game which may in turn rule him out for the World Cup if things go wrong. It's a risk. That's how important this game is.
I'm not here to tell the future. Whatever happens on Saturday will be a consequence of so many variables working together since these players were born. There are 2 things I'm sure of; the ball will be kicked and there will be a champion.


Whatever happens, we're in for a cracker. This chapter will be completed, destinies are waiting to be fulfilled and, for some, new suitors will be seduced. Ancelotti, the wise old master of sophistication will come up against the boisterous vulgarian in Simeone. The king of Madrid will soon be crowned.