Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will renew their intense rivalry when they meet in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night, kick-off at 20h45.The teams have met in two of the last three finals in this competition, with Real prevailing both times to claim their 10th and 11th European crowns in 2014 and 2016 respectively. Atletico and coach Diego Simeone will be desperate for revenge and the chance to once again fight for the elusive Champions League trophy: the Spanish giants have yet to win Europe’s greatest prize.
Real will start as clear favourites. Zinedine Zidane’s team are unmatched in their ability to overcome fellow European heavyweights, as their epic 6-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals proved, and they have the edge over their derby rivals in head-to-head meetings in Europe, with nine wins compared to eight losses.Yet Atletico are particularly strong travellers: on the weekend they romped to a 5-0 win at Las Palmas in La Liga and overall they are unbeaten in their last 15 away games. That sequence includes a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu just last month in a Liga clash - a repeat result would be more than satisfactory for the team in red and white.
Atletico will be without defenders Juanfran, Sime Vrsajlko and Jose Gimenez but Yannick Carrasco has been given the medical all clear and is available for selection. Real with be missing Gareth Bale and Pepe due to injury.
Real v Atletico - head-to-head, European competition
Matches played 23
Real wins 9
Atletico wins 8
Draws 6
Real goals 31
Atletico goals 26
Form guide (last five results, most recent first, all competitions)
Real - WWLWW
Atletico - WLWDW