Any Madrid derby is always a match to savour. Throw in the small matter of a Champions League final and we definitely have a match which will capture any football fan’s imagination. Real Madrid look like a new team ever since Zidane has taken over while Atletico Madrid have looked like the most organised team in Europe under Diego Simeone.
Their different approaches to Saturday’s match in Milan should make for another interesting battle between the crosstown rivals, which two years ago met in an epic final won by Real Madrid in extra time.
“A lot of the time experience is very important and in this aspect we’ve got a small advantage,” Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo said. “Atletico will be alert as a result of what happened two years ago. Atletico will want to win but we are ready.”
Atletico will be looking to capture their first ever Champions League trophy while Real will be looking to win an unprecedented 11th European Championship. The final promises to be a feisty encounter and we look into the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats both sides are going to face heading into the marquee clash on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid
Strengths
When you talk about Atletico Madrid’s strengths, the first thing which comes to mind is their defence. The back 4 of ‘Juanfran-Godin-Gimenez-Luis’ has been absolutely stunning this season and they are easily the best defensive unit in Europe. Also, their pressing and counter-attacking skills have left accomplished teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich spellbound. In form forwards Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres will be looking to exploit the suspect backline of the Blancos.
Diego Simeone’s men are a well-drilled team and their organisation skills might just prove to be too much for Zidane’s men to break down. Atletico Madrid are adept at getting results against the ‘big teams’ and their style of play is primed to cause a lot of problems to their illustrious neighbours.
Atletico Madrid always go out with a set plan and there is no doubt that Diego Simeone will be working overtime to devise the perfect strategy to beat Real Madrid.
Weaknesses
The centre-back defensive duo of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez are probably the best in the air, but as Bayern Munich showed in the second leg, attacking their full backs aerially can cause some problems. Pep Guardiola used Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller in slightly wider roles to trouble the full-backs and it caused innumerable problems to the Atletico defence.
The midfield apart from Koke seems to lack in creativity and it will be difficult for them to create clear cut chances. Also, the style Atletico Madrid play demands a lot of stamina and physicality which might open them up in the latter parts of the game once the players start to tire.
The disciplinary record of Atletico is also not very good and a sending off in the finals could prove to be detrimental for the Rojiblancos.
Opportunities
Atletico Madrid are one of the most successful teams in Spain and the only trophy missing in their cabinet is the Champions League. Diego Simeone and his men have the opportunity to create history by becoming the first ever European Championship winners for the Colcheneros.It also provides an excellent opportunity for the Atletico Madrid squad to avenge the heartbreaking loss in the 2014 final.
Atletico Madrid have always lived in the shadows of their rivals and neighbours Real Madrid and a win in the Champions League finals will truly signal the dawn of a new era in this intense rivalry. On a personal note, Fernando Torres will have the opportunity to win his first major trophy with his childhood club.
Threats
Real Madrid always seem to get the better of them in European competitions and the Rojiblancos will be wary of a club which is used to performing at Europe’s biggest stage. A defeat in the Champions League final can also prove to be detrimental for the future of Atletico Madrid as star players like Antoine Griezmann might be tempted to make a move to other clubs.
A run like this to the Champions League final can be difficult to replicate for Atletico Madrid and if they lose this finals, they might not get another opportunity like this anytime soon.
Real Madrid
Strengths
Real Madrid have been sweating on the fitness of their star man Cristiano Ronaldo, but with the Portuguese forward declaring himself fit, Zidane will almost have a full strength squad to call upon. Real Madrid look like a completely different side when they have the trio of Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo fit.
Another move by Zidane which has paid off spectacularly is the introduction of Casemiro in the defensive midfield area. Casemiro’s ability to get stuck in, aggression, break up play, and physicality has been vital in Madrid’s recent upturn in form. The only true defensive minded midfielder in this expensively assembled Los Blancos squad, his ability to sacrifice himself for the team’s cause has made him undroppable for Zidane.
Also, man to man, Real Madrid unquestionably have more talent and a single moment of magic from their expensively assembled galaxy of stars can prove to be the difference in a one-off match like the Champions League final. Also, with key players like Gareth Bale hitting their peak form at the right time, the task of containing Real Madrid will be an especially onerous one for the Atletico defence.
Weaknesses
Diego Simeone has a very good record against Los Blancos and he seems to know the exact formula to beat them time and time again. Although the primary formation of Atletico Madrid is 4-4-2, they are also extremely well drilled to effortlessly change to the 4-1-4-1 formation effectively allowing them to form two banks of 4 with or without the ball making them extremely solid defensively.
Also, Atletico have the meanest defence in Europe and it has proved difficult for Real Madrid to unlock the Rojiblancos defensive puzzle under Simeone. The extremely physical style of Atletico can also cause some problems especially since Varane has already been ruled out because of injury. An injury or a yellow/red card to the defensive duo of Sergio Ramos and Pepe can cause some real problems.
The Real Madrid defence has looked suspect right throughout the campaign and although they did not concede in both the legs against Manchester City, their performances against Roma and Wolfsburg will leave the likes of a clinical Griezmann and a revitalised Fernando Torres licking their lips. Atletico Madrid can frustrate Real Madrid and the longer the game goes on as 0-0, the more Real Madrid will open themselves to the devastating counter attack of the Colcheneros.
Opportunities
Real Madrid and Zidane have the opportunity to make history by winning the ‘undecima’. This match will determine Real Madrid’s season and Zidane has a chance of cementing his legacy as a Real Madrid manager. If they win the Champions League, their failure to win the La Liga title will be forgotten almost instantly.
This match gives Zidane and his men the perfect opportunity to salvage the season and end their 2015/16 campaign on a high. On a much more personal note, a good performance by Cristiano Ronaldo will provide the perfect answer to his critics who claim that he performs well only against the ‘smaller teams’.
Threats
In the last 6 league games Atletico have played against Real Madrid, they have won 3 and lost 3. This Atletico Madrid team also looks much stronger than the team which suffered heartbreak in the 2014 final and their performances against Barcelona and Bayern Munich this season show just how difficult they are to beat.
Torres and Griezmann have also been in very good form this season and the pace, movement and pressing of the duo can cause Real Madrid some huge problems. Also, a defeat in the final will make Real Madrid’s season a failure as they would end the season trophyless. This quite simply is a game Real Madrid cannot afford to lose.
X-Factor
Watch out for Fernando Torres’ incredible record of winning finals. The Spaniard has taken part in eight major finals for Club and Country and he has managed to end up on the winning side on seven occasions!
