THE FIRST TWO Champions League quarter-final first legs were contested this evening.
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We’re down to the last eight in Europe’s elite competition and tonight it’s the meeting of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in the Spanish capital, while Serie A champions Juventus host the team that knocked Arsenal out — AS Monaco.
We’ll be concentrating on the Madrid derby but promise to bring you updates from Italy as events unfold.
Without further ado, here are the teams:
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Siqueira, Gabi, Mario, Arda, Griezmann, Koke, Mandzukic.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Real and Atleti, who sit second and third in La Liga respectively, know each other all too well and this season they have already met six times — with Diego Simeone’s men winning four and the other two ending in a draw.
Their roads to quarter-finals look like this:
Atletico Madrid – Winners of Group A ahead of Juventus. Beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw on aggregate in the last 16.
Real Madrid – Winners of Group B ahead of Basel. Beat Schalke 5-4 on aggregate in the last 16.
The 2014 final saw these two go head-to-head in Lisbon last May. Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale, Marcelo, Cristiano Ronaldo (from the penalty spot) and Diego Godin all scored in a 4-1 win for Real Madrid, who finally got their hands on the evasive La Decima.
“If a player gets you 50 goals a season, he can be as moody as he wants” – ITV pundit Roy Keane give his thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Ireland assistant boss is alongside Paul Scholes and Lee Dixon pitchside.
Here we go then. Both clubs wearing their traditional colours, Luka Modric tips to Karim Benzema to get us going.
Dani Carvajal gets a shot away but it’s straight into the hands of Jan Oblak. Minutes later, Gareth Bale finds himself through on goal but his tame effort is kept out by the Slovenian goalkeeper. Great chance.
Real Madrid are attacking down the right and getting some joy early on.
Meanwhile, Mario Manduzkic has already been in the thick of the action and the Croatian striker concedes a free-kick 35 yards out from the Atleti goal.
Ronaldo steps up but his low drive is collected easily by Oblak.
Gabi is down holding his leg after a perfectly-good challenge from Sergio Ramos. There will no doubt be plenty of theatrics tonight, as there always is when these clubs meet.
Bale gets to the end-line and attempts to cut the ball back to Ronaldo. Godin does well to head clear, however.
Arda Turn is held back and Atletico Madrid have themselves a free-kick in a dangerous area. Godin’s header is blocked and the resulting corner is punched, then headed clear before Guilherme Siqueira lashes the ball behind for a goal kick.
Free-kick for Real and again it’s Ronaldo to take. His effort smashes off the wall and comes back out. He’s not happy and appeals for handball but the referee is having none of it.
Corner for Atletico Madrid but it’s straight into the hands of Casillas. He finds Benzema, who plays through Ronaldo. An interception is made but the ball finds its way to Bale. He lets fly from distance and Oblak dives to make the save.
Real Madrid continue to create decent opportunities. A corner falls to the edge of the box, where James Rodriguez uses the outside of his boot to curl towards the corner and Obrak blocks.
Down the other end, Griezmann receives possession after a poor clearance from Ramos. The Frenchman swivels and shoots but Casillas is equal to the strike.
Modric tries his luck from long range but the shot sails over.
Varane leaves Gabi for dead with blistering pace out wide and crosses to a central area. Benzema should shoot but opts instead to try find Ronaldo. When the ball is blocked, Rodriguez sees Obrak make yet another save.
Half-time: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid
Chance for Atleti as Greizmann heads wide. A clash of heads leaves Ramos on the ground but the referee has just blown for the end of the half.
Wording isn’t great but a good stat nevertheless. Atletico Madrid’s goalkeeper has kept them in it.
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The second half has just started.
Juanfran skips by James and digs out a cross. Turan times his jump to perfection but can only head a couple of yards wide.
Mandzukic’s face is pouring blood and the striker will need treatment. He appears to be furious with Ramos and is claiming he was the victim of an elbow.
GOAL! Juventus 1-0 Monaco (Arturo Vidal)
The Chilean midfielder puts Juve ahead after Ricardo Carvalho concedes the penalty.
Mandzukic in the wars yet again. Carvajal attempts to throw a punch at the forward then he takes a knock to the head from Varane.
Risky business from Carvajal. Could have seen red for this… although Mandzukic did make a meal of it.
20 minutes to go and somehow this one remains scoreless. Once again, Benzema chooses the wrong decision and looks to pass to Bale instead of getting his shot off. Ronaldo then comes rushing in to have a go but the ball is poked clear.
Substitutes on both sides. Isco on for Benzema and Raul Garcia replaces Griezmann.
Here comes Torres. El Nino is preparing to be introduced on the sidelines.
The home side pushing for a goal now and Turan does brilliantly to dribble his way past a couple of challenges but Madrid boot the ball away for a corner.
Torres is on for the final 8 minutes plus time added on. Koke makes way.
Alvaro Arbeloa, once of Liverpool, comes on for Carvajal.
Torres goes by Ramos with ease and the defender blatantly steps out to obstruct him. Definite foul.
Real Madrid are at sixes and sevens here but they miraculously keep the ball out through a series of last-ditch blocks and saves from Casillas. Atleti clearly on top now.
Full-time: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Real Madrid
So it’s still evenly-poised after an enthralling game and the second leg should be a cracker. In Turin, meanwhile, Vidal’s penalty was enough to hand the Old Lady a narrow advantage.
Tomorrow night we’ve got PSG v Barcelona and Porto v Bayern Munich to look forward to. Not too shabby at all.
