'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 Atletico Madrid continue to prove mettle on the grandest stages
In the aftermath of Atletico Madrid's 3-1 victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that saw them through to the final of the 2014 Champions League, manager Diego Simeone gave the rather bizarre compliment to his players' mothers for giving them 'big coj*nes'.
While the literal meaning of that phrase should be taken at surface value, it cannot be denied that the Colchoneros showed immense courage and determination en-route their magical campaign in 2014 and this is a trait that has remained with them ever since.
That season, Atletico Madrid went to iconic stadiums like the Nou Camp, the San Siro, and the aforementioned Stamford Bridge but despite being the overwhelming underdogs, they came unscathed and got the job done.
Further visits to the Camp Nou and the Allianz Arena still could not put them down and if not for the numerous one-man show by Cristiano Ronaldo over the years, it is undebatable that Atletico would have had at least one Champions League trophy in their cabinet.
This season, they have been far from their best and despite their one-goal advantage, they were still significant underdogs given their poor away form and superb performance of their hosts.
There is arguably no stadium more famed for hosting improbable comebacks than Anfield, with last year's 4-0 destruction of Barcelona joining a list of great 'European nights' that saw the likes of Inter Milan, St Etienne, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Olympiakos all fall victim.
In a repeat performance of what the Atleti fans did three weeks ago, Liverpool fans went even further and turned Anfield into a sea of red, with a heartfelt rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' spurring the players on and giving an indication that another big European result was on the cards.
The intense atmosphere at Anfield is no exaggeration, with several world-beaters who have performed on every corner of the planet giving it credence. Pep Guardiola called it a 'bugger of a ground', while Gianluigi Buffon answered 'definitely Anfield' when asked about his favourite stadium atmosphere and said that he had trouble concentrating inside the first 15 minutes.
Such endorsements by all-time greats are no mean feat but Atletico Madrid seemingly missed the memo and were not struck by any of the nerves players associate with playing at Anfield on European nights.
They executed their gameplan with minimum fuss and not even the roaring cries of 50,000 Liverpool supporters could faze them and at the end of 120 minutes, they added the great Anfield to the list of stadiums where they have gone and gotten the job done.
It was telling that towards the end of extra-time, the handful of Atleti supporters in the stands could be heard cheering their team on which was scarcely believable considering how outnumbered they were in the stands and silencing Anfield to a pin-drop is proof that Simeone's description six years ago still holds true for his players.
.
