Old rivalries will be renewed in the UEFA Champions League as the round of 16 draw threw up a mouthwatering clash between two giants from the Spanish capital. Real Madrid and cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid will battle it out for a spot in the quarterfinals, renewing a rivalry that dominated the continental stage throughout the 2010s.
Los Blancos met Los Rojiblancos in four straight Champions League seasons between 2014 and 2017. In the years since, the two clubs have gone on different trajectories. It has been the Royal Rhites that have ruled with an iron fist, winning six titles in the last 11 years, including last season when they defeated Borussia Dortmund at Wembley to wrap up a record-extending 15th crown. Atleti has qualified for all of those tournaments, which is an achievement in itself, but they haven’t made it past the quarterfinals in eight years.
This time around, the bookies think they will have a similarly difficult time of it. The latest odds from the Bovada gambling site currently make Real the +375 favorite to successfully retain their crown in Munich this May. Atletico, meanwhile, are a +1800 outsider, and getting over their more illustrious city-sharing cousin could be quite the task. A lot of folks are checking out their favorite gambling site, watching the odds, and speculating about what’s to come!
First Ever Same-City Final
Back in 2014, Real Madrid and Atletico met in the 2014 Champions League final, marking the first time that the two finalists called the same city their home. Los Blancos were somewhat cursed at this point, and their La Decima obsession had spilled into its 12th year. They had suffered semifinal heartbreak in each of the last three seasons under Jose Mourinho, with Carlo Ancelotti finally taking over and taking them to their first final since 2002.
Atleti, meanwhile, were riding the crest of a wave. Maverick manager Diego Simeone had improved their fortunes no end, leading them to a shock Spanish title success ahead of their cross-city rivals and Barcelona in one of La Liga’s biggest upsets. Now, they were out to seal the perfect season by winning the Champions League for the first time. And it looked like they might get the job done when defender Diego Godin nodded over the scrambling Iker Casillas to give the underdogs a shock lead.
But for Real, that La Decima curse was about to be broken. Sergio Ramos powered home a 95th-minute equalizer before his side took over in extra time. Goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo, and Cristiano Ronaldo were enough to secure an emphatic 4-1 victory and take the title back to the Bernabeu for the tenth time.
Rivals Meet on the Grandest Stage Once Again
The following season, the two rivals met once again, this time at the quarterfinal stage. Once again, it was Real that came out on top. The first leg in the Vicente Calderon ended goalless, and it looked like the second leg would go the same way. That was up until Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez popped up two minutes from time to score the winner and send Atletico packing.
But Real couldn’t capitalize on that, and they were eliminated in the semifinals after being downed by former striker Alvaro Morata’s winner for Juventus.
In 2016, they wouldn’t share the same fate. Under Zinedine Zidane, Los Blancos reached the final once again. As luck would have it, Atletico were the ones waiting for them. Los Rojiblancos had taken the tournament by storm, knocking off the two tournament favorites back to back in the form of Barcelona and Bayern Munich. This time, they headed to the San Siro, looking to rewrite history.
Ramos was again on target for Real, netting in the first half to give his side the lead. But Los Rojiblancos wouldn’t surrender like they did two years prior. Deep into the second half, Belgian winger Yannick Carrasco equalized, sparking delirium at one end of the iconic Milanese stadium. Neither team could find a winner, forcing the contest to a penalty shootout.
It’s a cruel way to lose a game, and it’s even crueler when you’re the only player that misses. But that was the fate of Atleti fullback Juanfran. He struck the post with his spot-kick – in front of the heartbroken Atletico fans, no less – allowing Ronaldo the chance to take the trophy to the Bernabeu once again. Ultimately, the Portuguese superstar did exactly that, decisively sweeping past ‘keeper Jan Oblak.
Real End the Rivalry Once and For All
In 2017, the two rivals clashed for the fourth straight season, this time at the semifinal stage. And on this occasion, Real would enforce their dominance. They romped to a 3-0 victory in the first leg at the Bernabeu thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick.
In the second leg, they found themselves 2-0 down inside 16 minutes through Saul Niguez and Antoine Griezmann. But Isco’s crucial away goal just shy of halftime took the tie away from Atletico, leaving them needing three goals to progress. They couldn’t find one, and Real emerged victorious once more. They then went on to defeat Juventus in Cardiff in the final to become the first team in history to successfully defend their Champions League title.
