Atletico Madrid need to overhaul a 3-0 deficit against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final clash to qualify for the UEFA Champions League final. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a sensational hat-trick in the first-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu to crush the hopes of Diego Simeone’s side of qualifying for the final but not all is lost and there is still hope for the Vicente Calderon outfit.
Los Blancos have got the better of Atletico in their last 3 meetings in the Champions League, emerging as the winners in two of the last 3 seasons courtesy of a win over their arch-rivals and it looks like Zinedine Zidane’s side are almost into the final once again, but it ain’t over until it is over and that is what Atletico Madrid have to believe.
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Here are 5 reasons why Atletico Madrid can still beat Real Madrid and reach the final of the UEFA Champions League:
#1 Home advantage
You can never discount the home advantage that any side has on the football field. Playing at home and especially in front of passionate supporters – like at the Vicente Calderon - not only guarantees an environment conducive ti get the best out of the home team, it also plays with the mindset of the opposition team.
The continuous jeers and booing will not only dampen the moral of Real Madrid, it will also reinvigorate Atleti if and when they feel that the task is nigh impossible. The home support has often been termed as the 12th man and there is good reason for that, with almost all teams across Europe boasting a better record at home than on the road.
In fact, Diego Simeone’s side are unbeaten at home in the Champions League this season and have only conceded one goal so far.
#2 Real Madrid's defence
If there is one obvious flaw in this Real Madrid side then that is their defence. In their last 20 games in all competition, Zinedine Zidane’s side have only managed to keep one clean sheet, two out of which came in their last 2 games including the one against Atletico.
Raphael Varane season has been marred by injuries and he is just making his return to the team, while Zidane will be without the services of Pepe and Dani Carvajal who are sidelined due to injuries. A makeshift defence, probably of Nacho, Varane, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo is expected to start tonight and Atletico Madrid need to exploit this weakness of the Santiago Bernabeu outfit.
#3 After Barcelona's comeback against PSG nothing can be ruled out
Barcelona mounted one of the greatest comebacks of all-time when they overturned a 4-goal deficit against French giants PSG in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. They were subsequently knocked out of the tournament after failing to repeat this feat in the quarters when Juventus took a 3-goal lead in the first-leg.
However, what Barcelona’s comeback has done is provided hope for any team looking to overturn a hefty first-leg deficit and that is what Atletico Madrid are aiming right now. Even Monaco, despite being 4-0 down against Juventus last night had some hope left after Kylian Mbappe scored his side’s first goal in the 69th minute. The Old Lady had no reason to panic but the nerves were visible in their play until the 85th minute.
Atletico need to open the scoring early in the game to put the pressure on Real Madrid and then build from there.
#4 Antoine Griezmann is keen to show he is a big game player
2016 was a cruel year for Antoine Griezmann from a personal point-of-view and also from the perspective of his teams. The Frenchman lost to Real Madrid in the final of the UEFA Champions League, while also tasting defeat with France in the final of Euro 2016, both times against a Cristiano Ronaldo side.
He did finish 3rd in the FIFA Best Player race and although he is currently not enjoying his best ever season, he will be keen to prove that he is a big game player and lay to rest the ghosts of last season’s disappointment. He missed a penalty in the Champions League final, which proved pivotal as Real Madrid lifted the trophy after winning in the penalty shootout.
Griezmann may have been linked with a world record move to Manchester United but before he opts to move away from Vincente Calderon he has one last score to settle and that is to guide his team to a win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
#5 Diego Simeone did the impossible by winning the league, he can do the impossible again
Since the start of the 2004 season, Real Madrid and Barcelona have dominated La Liga, winning titles on all occasions with the exception of the 2013/14 season when Diego Simeone’s side brought an end to the duopoly, briefly at least, and won the league title.
It was an impossible task, usurping a Real Madrid led by Cristiano Ronaldo and a Barcelona inspired by Lionel Messi’s magic but Atletico did it when others did not even dare to dream about it.
They have another impossible task on their hands tonight and if anyone could do it, it has to be Los Rojiblancos. It is not like Atleti are in unfamiliar territory, they have beaten Real Madrid 4-0, only 2 years ago in La Liga and all they have to do is repeat their performance from that night and hope that it all pans out.
Will they do it, only time will tell.
