Real Madrid trainer Carlo Ancelotti breezed through is pre-match press conference this morning just like you would expect from a manager that has already won the competition three times, while focusing on the memory of having beaten Atletico in last season’s final.
The truth of the matter though is that in the last six meetings between the two sides Atletico has come out on top four times. Ancelotti reminded the press after being bombarded with these facts that a club can still go through to the next round without ever having won a match based on the away goal rule.
This drew an immediate response from the press asking if Real Madrid was actually going to try and win the game at the Vincente Caulderon or were they in fact looking to come away with a draw.
Our take on the Italian trainers statement is that he will if Real Madrid gets the first goal sit back and hope to hit Atletico on the break all the time being quite content to return to the Santiago Bernabeu with a draw which has us taking 23/10 with Titanbet that the match will finish a draw.
“We will play to win but we can go through with two draws,” said the Italian coach.
He was also asked if Gareth Bale would be starting for Los Blanco’s. “If Bale is not 100 per cent fit he will not play because we have everyone available,” Ancelotti said of the former Tottenham forward who missed Saturdays 3-0 win over Eibar with everyone assuming Isco would get the start before adding: “But he [Bale] is 100 per cent.”
Ancelotti also gave his backing to the Welshman who has had to endure some stick from the Madrid fans of late saying: “He was fantastic last season and he’s been very good so far in this one.” “He came good in the final months, scoring in the Champions League and Copa del Rey finals, so let’s see how he performs now in the run-in.”
Turning his attention to tonight’s opponents he said he applauded Diego Simeone’s team for the way they came out fighting from the first whistle.
If Atletico Madrid is going to win it will be down to a set piece yet the Italian responded to this saying: “Don’t forget we won the Champions League with a set-piece last season,” referring to Sergio Ramos’s header that took the game to extra time before Real Madrid eventually won 4-1.
Simeone will look to play Mario Mandzukic up front instead of Fernando Torres while hoping extra numbers in midfield and an aggressive style will be enough to win the match as it has been so far this season for the Matressmakers.
Meanwhile Ancelotti was keep to stress that the attitude problem Real displayed in the 4-0 loss at the same Stadium in February would not be in evidence tonight. “We are not obsessed with Atletico Madrid,” he said. “Our objective is not so much to beat them, more to win this club’s 11th European Cup.”
If Real Madrid should win the Champions League they would be the first club to win it back-to-back with Trainer Carlo Ancelotti being the first manager to have won the title four times.
Atletico Madrid (probable): Oblak; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Gamez; Arda, Gabi, Mario Suarez, Koke; Mandzukic, Griezmann.
Real Madrid (probable): Casillas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; James, Kroos, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
