New names...same crap team!

HALA MADRID!

 

Atletico the favorite in all-Madrid Champions League final rematch

We have been before, and not that long ago. Real Madrid’s 1-0 win over Manchester City sets up a repeat of the 2014 Champions League final against Atletico Madrid. Atletico was the huge underdog in that game, and came within a minute of winning the trophy before Sergio Ramos’s 93rd-minute equalizer forced extra time. Real Madrid went on to a win by a flattering 4-1 margin, pulling away in the extra 30 minute.

It’s a different story this time around. For a start, Atletico Madrid now has to be the favorite. It has beaten Barcelona and Bayern Munich, both on away goals, to reach this point, and has the edge over Real Madrid in league games this season; a 1-1 draw at the Calderon on Matchday 7, and a 1-0 away win on Matchday 26. It currently is tied with Barcelona on points, one ahead of Real in a three-team race to the finish.

Then there is the Diego Simeone factor. He will be the first to say he is the underdog. The Argentine coach must have watched the second semifinal wondering if it was even the same sport: where was the intensity that we saw in the Bayern-Atletico thriller? The tentative Man City-Madrid game was not how a Simeone team plays. His sides are all about the collective and the sacrifice for your teammates. City’s players barely looked like they had ever met before.
Simeone was on the pitch after the game at the Allianz Arena in Munich Tuesday night, chatting and laughing on his cell phone with his family back in Argentina. When he was coaching in his homeland, he was not particularly popular, but five years and untold success into his career on the Atletico bench, they can’t get enough of him back home now.

“He is a huge star in Argentina,” said Federico Bassahun, editor of the quarterly magazine Don Julio. “He was misunderstood here for being 'too European,' and was massively criticized when he was at River. But for the work he has done in Madrid, he is now a star. He can do no wrong. And now some people want him to replace Tata Martino as Argentina coach. His teams play like he did: never give up and 100% intensity.”

There is a key difference in Atletico’s 2016 version, and it’s one that Simone will play on in the build-up to the final: inexperience. Only five players from the 2014 teams are still around two years later–Diego Godin, Juanfran, Filipe Luis, Koke and Gabi–and the others, who include Arda Turan, Diego Costa, Toby Alderweireld and David Villa, have all been replaced by younger players.

“We had more experience back then… players who were 28, 29 years old,” Simeone said Tuesday. “Now, we have a lot of young players who have learned and really improved. Saul [Niguez], for example, has shown what he can do, and that is something that makes me very proud.”

The flipside of the inexperience is that Simeone is building a team for the future; he already has a team that has reached two finals in three years and is contending for another league title. The match-winnner in Munich was scored by Antoine Griezmann, who, at 25, is the oldest of the new generation. He also scored the goal that won Atletico the game at the Bernabeu in February. With a revitalized Fernando Torres alongside him, this side is an upgrade on the 2014 team.

You could not say the same about Real Madrid. It may be in the final, but it has hardly been smooth progress: against Roma it gave up a boatload of opportunities; it lost the quarterfinal first leg 2-0 at Wolfsburg before Ronaldo came to the rescue with a second-leg hat trick; and in the semifinals it got past a City side that created its first moment of danger with Sergio Aguero’s shot from distance with 84 minutes gone in the second leg.

And yet, you cannot ignore the lure of the 'undecima.' Real Madrid may not have won in 11 visits against (Italian) opposition at the San Siro, the final venue, but Ronaldo should be fully fit by the time the final comes around, and, as coach Zinedine Zidane hopes, so, too will Karim Benzema. Gareth Bale has been in outstanding form this month, and he has proven himself as the team’s leader during Ronaldo’s quieter moments.
Zidane deserves credit, too, for improving the environment around the players that grew toxic while Rafa Benitez was there. Zidane is not a temporary coach like Roberto di Matteo was for Chelsea in 2012, but that is a precedent for a coach joining midseason and winning this trophy. Like Madrid’s 2014 coach, Carlo Ancelotti, Zidane knows what it’s like to play in this fixture (he scored a sensational volleyed winner in 2002), and the players have responded to his style of management.

Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid is usually a local affair, but in recent years it’s gone global. This time, though, there is a new favorite and, potentially, a first-time winner (Atletico was runner-up in 1974 and 2014). Not many neutrals would begrudge Simeone his moment of glory.

Champions League final: Atletico Madrid favored vs Real this time

REAL MADRID V THE ENTIRE WORLD!
REAL MADRID V A LEGION OF HAVE NOTS
REAL MADRID V BLOODY PEONS!

REAL MADRID WILL SAVE FOOTBALL!!!

 

Real Madrid have announced that forward Gareth Bale has a knee problem and goalkeeper Keylor Navas has Achilles tendon injury.

Bale and Navas both completed the 90 minutes in Madrid's 1-0 Champions League semifinal win over Manchester City on Wednesday night, but the club have confirmed that they have picked up injuries that look set to see them miss Sunday's La Liga game at home to Valencia.

Karim Benzema and Casemiro, who missed the City game due to fitness issues, have returned to training with their teammates it remains to be seen if they will be risked against Valencia.

Zinedine Zidane's side, currently trailing Primera Division leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid by a point, play their final league game at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday May 14 before taking on Atletico in the Champions League final on May 28.

Local newspaper AS has reported that Bale is expected to be back to face Depor, with the club confirming that scans had picked up a knee problem but declining to give any more details.

"After tests carried out on our player Gareth Bale, a muscle strain in his right knee has been detected," the statement read.

Reserve keeper Kiko Casilla looks set to play against Valencia after another short club statement said Navas had an Achilles problem.

"After tests carried out on our player Keylor Navas, an Achilles tendon issue has been diagnosed in his left foot," the second statement read.

The club also issued an update after training on Friday suggesting that right-back Dani Carvajal is also likely to miss the Valencia game, with Danilo available to come in.

"The squad went back to training at the Real Madrid City in preparation for the La Liga match against Valencia that will take place this Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu," the statement read.

"Benzema and Casemiro completed a session with the group in which ball work took centre stage. Keylor Navas, Bale and Carvajal worked in the indoor facilities.

"Zidane again called on the Real Madrid Castilla striker Borja Mayoral for the training session, which kicked off with a series of warm-up exercises. These were followed by various possession and pressuring drills, before finishing off with crossing and shooting."

Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid-based football writer who covers La Liga and the Spain national team for ESPN FC. Twitter @dermotmcorrigan.

Real Madrid stars Gareth Bale and Keylor Navas suffer injuries - ESPN FC

:surprise::surprise::surprise:

 

[tub]Ji021RYgGXQ[/tub]
roud:

 

This can be the 'proper' CL final match thread is the title is changed to something more appropriate.

Much of the hype and build-up will be focused around what happened two years ago, but this season's form is what is more relevant. The paths that both teams have taken to reach this final couldn't be any more different and Real have had an easy run in which they've not impressed. I struggle to think of a run as poor as Roma, Wolfsburg, City.

Not that Atletico need further galvanizing, but taking the scalps of both Barca and Bayern will give them further resolve and belief.

 

Nah, the CL final deserves a less biased thread, with a poll...

 

I can add a poll

 

I like real madrid as a club and all.


However, I think this year the title will be of Atletico Madrid.

They are in better form, more hungry players, more experienced manager that has achieved simply amazing things.

I hope they win , Atletico Madrid!


This coming from the person that predicted one year before it happened that Real Madrid would win the LA DECIMA!

 

[tub]NM88M18peYY[/tub]
roud:

 

BBC roud:

 

You sure the BBC will be available for the final?

 

change the thread title to make it more "appropriate" and meaningful
PLS ...

 

:grin2:

 

Zinedine Zidane will be without another of his key men for Sunday's La Liga showdown with the news that the Croatia international has picked up an injury of his own

Luka Modric has been ruled out of Real Madrid's clash with Valencia due to a muscle problem.

Madrid head into Sunday's meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu just one point adrift of La Liga's top two Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but must face Pako Ayestaran's team shorn of several first-team regulars.

Midfielder Modric joins the likes of Gareth Bale, Casemiro and Keylor Navas on the sidelines, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have also struggled with minor injury complaints in recent weeks.

A short club statement released just a few hours before Sunday's match read: "Luka Modric will not play against Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"The midfielder is out of the squad as a precaution, due to slight muscular discomfort."

Manager Zinedine Zidane will hope Modric recovers quickly, with Madrid's Liga campaign finishing at Deportivo La Coruna next weekend, before the Champions League final against city rivals Atletico on May 28.


Real Madrid news: Luka Modric out of Valencia match - Goal.com

 

After watching Atleti bottle it last night, and Real Madrid in high spirits, I think this one will be settled in 90 minutes.

Real Madrid to beat a battered and worn out Atletico: 2-1.

 

we all know Real will win this, no chance of anything else...

 

Real do have better chance (bigger squad) and so it followed the poll (ESPNFC)

Who will win the UEFA Champions League this season?
56% Real Madrid

44% Atletico Madrid

====================================
However it's not a big difference and anything can happen in football like Leicester Cinderella case.
Aletico got the STATS on their side (win 3 and lost 1 in last 7 games)
Aletico vs Real W3 D3 L1

 

ISIS kill 14 Real Madrid fans in massacre at supporters club headquarters

President of the Baghdad supporters club Ziad Subhan said: "They (ISIS) don't like football, they think it's anti-Muslim. This is a terrible tragedy"

A group of Islamic State terrorists armed with AK-47s attacked the headquarters of a Real Madrid supporters club killing 14 people.

Information on the incident in Samarra in Baghdad, Iraq, is just emerging.

A further 28 people were injured in the gathering of around 50 people during the terrorist attack at the centre.

Gruesome scenes have started to emerge on social media that illustrate the aftermath of the bloodbath.

Bullet holes can be seen littering a room full of armchairs with an upturned chair in the centre - and blood smeared all over the floor with a trail leading out of what appears to be a main meeting room.

Its members are said to meet at the club headquarters for coffee and to watch old Real Madrid games when there isn't live football on.

President of the supporters club Ziad Subhan said: "A group of Islamic terrorists, from ISIS, came into the café, armed with AK-47s, shooting at random at everyone who was inside".

Asked about the motives for the attack, AS reports the president said: "They don't like football, they think it's anti-Muslim. They just carry out attacks like this. This is a terrible tragedy".

Fans of the club worldwide reacted with horror and shock at the news on social media.

One fan Ryan (@ryantran55) posted: "No matter how different we may be, we all share one common love. My thoughts go out to the Real Madrid fan club attack victims in Iraq."

The official Twitter account for La Liga posted on Twitter that it was "thinking of the victims and families".

Supporters clubs throughout the Middle East were united in grief throughout the 'commonwealth of Real Madrid fans'.

They claimed that 'the very youngest innocent members of the association' were targeted in the attack in Iraq, describing them as martyrs - and praying 'for the wounded to heal'.

ISIS kill 14 Real Madrid fans in massacre at supporters club headquarters - Mirror Online

HALA MADRID roud:!!!
WINNING THE UNDECIMA IS NOW A MUST!!!

 

ISIS kill 14 Real Madrid fans in massacre at supporters club headquarters

President of the Baghdad supporters club Ziad Subhan said: "They (ISIS) don't like football, they think it's anti-Muslim. This is a terrible tragedy"

just a group of Muslim extremists who have more (blind) faith than brain ... any entertain events = BAD for the religion i.e. Rock concert in Paris to Football game

Stupidly, they think "violence is GOOD for Religion" LOL

 

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT | 13/05/2016

Real Madrid C. F. deeply regrets the terrible attack in Iraq which today saw 16 members of a Real Madrid supporters club lose their lives and which has also left over 20 injured.

The club expresses its great sadness and offers its regards and condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Real Madrid extends all of its solidarity to the people of Iraq, who suffer the excessive injustices of extreme violence.

The Real Madrid players will tomorrow wear symbolic black armbands as a sign of their mourning and respect. Football and sport shall always be spaces in which to come together and in which harmony and peace reign and with which no form of barbaric terrorism will be able to compete.

Today Madridismo across the whole world cries for its supporters, who shall never be forgotten.

Official Announcement | Real Madrid CF

 

roud:roud:roud:

 

Somehow the same teams are in the final again as 2 years ago...hopefully the result will be different oke:

 

I know there's already one thread which is sort of about it but it's so crap (not even titled properly) and shows such a Real Madrid bias...so I thought we need a proper official topic.

 

By STATS and reputation: Real 55% and Aletico 45%

By Form in this season UCL KOs: Aletico 55% and Real 45%

Overall 50 equal as anything will happen and GOOD LUCK to Simeone and Zizou.

The key difference is Real's trio BBC - if they will be in their top form? unstoppable. If not I will cheer for Aletico defense and counter *Xfingers with Griezman as the next Ballon Dor winner in potential

 

Can someone please CLOSE THIS THREAD!

 

or joined :wink2:

 

not sure if important but some source claimed 13 (dailymail.uk) and telegraph.uk wrote 16 victims ... yet mirror.uk put up with 14?

Someone forgot how to count .. in such massacre ? English men any?

 

AS.COM, MARCA.COM, and RM.COM are reporting a total of 16...

Real Madrid: Ataque terrorista a una peña del Madrid en Irak: 16 muertos | Marca.com
Click on the link to see pictures of the fallen Madridistas!

HALA MADRID and May GOD bless their souls!

 

MAY 28th CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH!!!

 

WE ARE WITH YOU IRAQ roud:

HALA MADRID!

 

[tub]VykFGq2MJGw[/tub]
Chupa means suck it...
Look at suck princess run his mouth...
Chupa? That's the only reason why Messi keeps you around, isn't it? Keep bending over for your Argie Master, you're a disgrace to your country!

 

Look at this Turk or wherever he's from...
He swears he's something special!
Everyone knows he should have never won the Ballon d' Or in 94...but the rules were different back then so he was gifted the award!

 

Look at this Turk or wherever he's from...
He swears he's something special!
Everyone knows he should have never won the Ballon d' Or in 94...but the rules were different back then so he was gifted the award!

in 94? Who is he BTW?
He thinks he was better than Romario, Baggio, Stoitchkov , Hagi Limanen , Savicevic ?

unless he was like ... Magico Gonzalez :thumbsup (1):