The capital of European champions, the capital in love with football, is once again ready for a spectacle, for a new European Madrileño - Real or Atletico once again playing for the glory of Madrid.
The Champions League round of 11 brings several super interesting clashes, and the "royal club" and the "colchoneros" after unforgettable duels over the last XNUMX years are now rivals well before the final...
Although Atletico has been here ever since Diego Simeone one of Real's toughest rivals, when it comes to the Champions League, everything is in the white colors of the world's most trophy-winning club. Since 2014, when they met in the elite after half a century, when Real celebrated after the drama in Lisbon, the "blancos" have always emerged as winners in European duels.
- History is there, and Real's history in the Champions League is extraordinary. However, this year we will certainly have a new opportunity to change everything - said Ćolo at a press conference.
Ćol's team has never been more dangerous
The two great rivals have met four times in the Champions League since 2014, and Real always won - that year and 2016 in the grand final, 2015 in the quarter-finals and 2017 in the semi-finals. For all this, the club from the “Bernabeu” is once again the favorite, but more than ever there are many who believe that Atletico could finally overtake the European champions. How tricky the “colçonerosI” are showed in two La Liga matches this season that ended with an identical result (1:1).
"I always put Barcelona and Real Madrid where they belong because of the history they have, but we are also in a process of growth, which is very nice," Simeone added.
A special strength of his team this season is the bench, more precisely the fact that whoever does not start the game makes a difference when they come on later - that was the case with Aleksander Serlotom or Anhelom Korea, even with phenomenal Hulijan Alvarez who won the derby against Athletic Bilbao at the weekend.
- Julián seems to me to be full of energy, with the desire to achieve even more. I hope he continues like that - Simeone pointed out.
Don Carlo and Diego
The Kings of Europe, as always, believe in a special connection with the Champions League, although the big don Carlo Angelotti He knows that he is facing a rival against whom he may have had the most trouble throughout his trophy-winning coaching career.
The legendary Italian will face Simeone for the 27th time, and so far their head-to-head record is tied - 9:9, with eight draws.
- We know it will be difficult, it always is. The derby is always special, we expect an uncertain match - said Ancelotti.
Of course, he spoke specifically about his colleague and rival.
- My first memory of Colo comes from when I was a footballer. He scored an important goal against me in the match between Juventus and Lazio, and then a goal in a crucial match on Lazio's road to the Scudetto in 2000. As a coach? I respect him a lot - above all for the way he reads the game, the commitment he has to the team, especially on the defensive level - Ancelotti pointed out.
Is Arsenal afraid of their rivals from Eindhoven?
An interesting match on the first day of the round of 16 will be played in Eindhoven, where PSV will host Arsenal. In any other case, the Gunners would be big favorites, but when you know that Mikel Arteta Due to injuries, he cannot count on many important assets, and if the "Phillips players" showed in the playoffs against Juventus that they know how to deal with favorites, then this doubleheader could be open until the last minute.
"We face a rival who eliminated a big team from Italy, but we know what to expect, we've played against them many times," said Arteta.
PSV will want to play their game even against the second-placed Premier League team.
- I will not change my playing style - I adapt to the opponent in every match, but not to his philosophy - he is clear Peter Bosch, PSV coach.
The matches in Madrid and Eindhoven, as well as in Dortmund between Borussia and Lille, start at 21 pm, while the evening will open with a clash between Club Brugge and Aston Villa at 18.45:XNUMX pm.
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