Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid: 5 talking points

Defending champions Real Madrid emerged 1-0 victors over city rivals Atletico Madrid to ensure a place in the last 4 of the Champions league for the fifth year running. Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez scored just two minutes from time to send Rojiblancos out packing.Just like the first leg, Real dominated the game right from the start and created the better chances going forward. The visitors though, held their nerves and denied the home side from taking the lead but went one man down when Arda Turan was sent off for his second bookable offence.For all their efforts, Real finally found the breakthrough just 2 minutes from time when Cristiano Ronaldo stabbed a pass into the path of Chicharito, who poked the ball into an unguarded net. The Whites keep their title aspirations alive and here are the 5 talking points from the game.

#1 Real finally break the jinx and at the right time

After the historic La Decima success in Lisbon last summer, Real Madrid played Atletico Madrid on 8 occasions this season, starting with the Spanish Super Cup at the cusp of the season, which they ended up losing. They then faced each other twice in the league, and the white half lost both the ties.

Los Blancos, in between, crossed swords with their neighbours even in the Copa Del Rey and were at the losing end yet again. And then came the most important contest of them all – the Champions League.

After the first round stalemate, Real went 7 matches without a win against Atletico and thereby the game at the Bernabeu was the most important tie of the season. And they finally did emerge as winners.

Just when it seemed that the game was heading towards the extra-time, Chicharito, who squandered quite a few chances on the night, was set-up by Ronaldo and the Mexican nonchalantly poked the ball into an empty net to propel his side into the last 4. Real successfully broke the 9-month hoodoo but more importantly, at the right time.

#2 Ancelotti\'s dodgy gamble pays off

With Real Madrid’s midfield maestro, Luka Modric sidelined, Carlo Ancelotti was likely to revamp his midfield set-up for this fixture which he sure did but in a bizarre and risky fashion.

With an accumulative of €65million in midfield talent at his fingertips, the Italian had multifarious options to choose from, but instead, choose to play the centre-back Sergio Ramos alongside Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez in the midfield pivot. The gamble appeared to be eyebrow-raising at first but paid dividends, in the end.

Tenacious in his tackles and lethal on the offense, Ramos did a pretty great job in his new role. The Spaniard recycled the ball time and time again and generally stayed deep in the defensive phase. The ploy did have its effect on the game as it left the visitors futile on the counter and were impeded from dictating the game from the centre of the park.

The stratagem by Ancelotti surely reaped rewards but on the flip side, shows his lack of confidence on the out-and-out midfielders, who were left to watch the game from the bench.

#3 Oblak\'s the real deal

With the primary custodian, Thibaut Courtois returning to his parent club Chelsea during last summer, replacing him was going to be a daunting prospect for the Spanish champions. But their summer recruit Jan Oblak has certainly simmered down the vexation. The Slovenian has been terrific in goal throughout the season and even last night, put up an excellent display that nearly put the game into extra time.

The towering goalkeeper made sublime handling of the ball and also showed excellent reactions. Oblak pulled off a multitude of stops to deny the home team and kept the visitors in the game until the end. He was quite unfortunate to surrender the goal in the dying embers but was, nevertheless, the best man in red and white colour for the night.

And, the story wasn’t different in the first leg as well. To put things into context, Oblak has made more saves against Real Madrid in the Champions League this season than any other goalkeeper. After a sluggish start to life in Spain, Oblak has finally found his feet again and has asserted his place at the head of the pecking order.

#4 Chicharito gets his moment in the sun

On loan from Manchester United, Chicharito had a forgetful loan spell with the capital club so far. The Mexican was seldom used by manager Ancelotti and thereby had an iota of chances at his disposal to express himself.

In this key fixture with Real’s main target man Karim Benzema out injured, Chicharito was installed as the central forward and did repay the manager's faith.

The 26-year old was a constant menace to the Atletico defence and despite blowing away a few chances, especially in the first half, was never short of confidence. His terrific work rate finally came to fruition when after a neat one-two with Ronaldo, slotted the ball home just 2 minutes before the injury time.

The “Little Pea” may not have impressed as he would have expected him to be nor would he be at the Spanish capital next season, but he’s still a quality player who can be a match-winner on his day.

#5 Greater challenges lie in waiting for Real Madrid

Los Blancos may have progressed to the final 4 of this Champions League edition, but there’s little to celebrate about as tougher and more formidable challenges lie ahead for them.

Juventus, who have been rampant in the league all season, have found their stride in Europe this term and are in great form. Although it took them 12 years to book a place in the semis again, the Bianconeris look stronger than ever and are a different proposition this time compared to the last outing between these two sides.

Bayern Munich, on the other hand, look prepared to get their hands on the Champions League trophy yet again as they have been tearing their opponents to shreds of late and are the hottest favourites to life the title.

Whereas for compatriots Barcelona, after going a year without a trophy, are back in their element, in their ruthless self, brushing aside some of the big guns of Europe. After a slow start under Enrique, the club from Catalunya have hit a purple patch in last few weeks and are in a devastating form.

Whichever draw lies in the offing for Real, its surely going to be a cracker and their toughest test of the season.