Who: Actual Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
What: UEFA Champions League spherical of 16, first leg tie
When: Tuesday, March 4 at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
The place: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
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The Madrid derby takes centre stage within the Champions League spherical of 16, with Atletico Madrid in a commanding place to attempt to lastly get the very best of rival Actual Madrid within the European competitors.
Actual, the document 15-time European champion and current holders, have been a thorn for Atletico within the Champions League over time, beating town rival in two finals.
However this Atletico arrives for Tuesday’s first leg on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium taking part in a few of its greatest soccer since coach Diego Simeone took over greater than a decade in the past, and exhibiting confidence that it may possibly meet the longtime rivals head-on.
What’s Actual Madrid’s tackle sport?
Actual Madrid star Vinicius Junior mentioned his group face early elimination from the Champions League in the event that they make any errors in opposition to Atletico Madrid of their final 16 tie.
Madrid misplaced 2-1 in opposition to Actual Betis on Saturday in LaLiga and Vinicius mentioned their weak efficiency couldn’t be repeated in Europe.
“I believe within the final sport, we lacked a little bit of all the things… we made too many errors, we defended badly and did all the things badly,” the winger instructed a information convention on Monday.
“It’s higher it occurred within the final sport, as tomorrow we will make no errors as a result of these are knockout video games the place you make a mistake and also you’re going residence, and we don’t need to go residence so early.
“We’re right here to maintain bettering our sport and to place in efficiency tomorrow.”
Actual coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned he hoped the slip-up in opposition to Betis was a one-time concern earlier than the derby.
“We lacked perspective within the sport in opposition to Betis. I hope it was an remoted incident,” Ancelotti instructed reporters. “It’s a very even tie and it is going to be determined within the second leg. It’s a good sport, [it will be] hard-fought.”
Ancelotti praised his reverse quantity and highlighted Atletico coach Diego Simeone’s strengths.
“What I like is the best way he reads video games, how he units up his group, his technique, the defensive grit his gamers have – I like all of that,” mentioned Ancelotti.
What are Atletico’s possibilities in opposition to Actual Madrid?
Simeone admitted that Atletico’s metropolis rivals have the extra illustrious historical past however backed his personal group to ship forward of their tantalising tie.
Atletico have by no means received the Champions League, ending as runners-up on three events. In the meantime, Madrid are thought-about the “kings of Europe”, and the guy rivals from LaLiga, Barcelona, have lifted the trophy 5 occasions.
“I all the time put Barcelona and Actual Madrid the place they’re due to their historical past, so nothing has modified,” Simeone instructed reporters on Monday. “They each have an amazing historical past and we’re pure development, which may be very good.
“As we all the time relate conditions to historical past, and historical past exists, Actual Madrid’s historical past within the Champions League is extraordinary, and tomorrow, we now have an enormous alternative.”
Atletico are battling with Spain’s large two for the LaLiga title and are at present second, one level behind Barca and two forward of Los Blancos.
Simeone’s facet are additionally but to lose a match this season in opposition to both Actual or Barcelona. Within the Spanish league, they beat the Catalan membership 2-1 in Barcelona and drew 1-1 in each video games they performed in opposition to Actual.
“I see a sport with loads of respect in opposition to an awesome opponent and I believe they respect us in the identical method,” mentioned the coach. “All of the earlier video games could have no impression in any respect – that is the Champions League.
“If we performed in opposition to a group that wasn’t in our league, we’d not get into that… I believe for town, for Madrid, it’s spectacular that Atletico and Actual Madrid are going through off.”
How is new-look Champions League shaping up?
The spherical of 16 will start this week to cap the inaugural season of a brand new Champions League format that has featured a league section and a playoff spherical.
The opposite last-16 matchups will embody the native rivalry of German golf equipment Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, and powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, who topped the league section, going in opposition to one another.
Atletico completed fifth within the league section, whereas Madrid was solely eleventh and needed to play additional playoff games against Manchester City.
Head-to-head
The final time Atletico confronted Madrid within the Champions League, it was eradicated within the semifinals in 2017. It additionally misplaced to Madrid within the finals in 2014 and 2016, and within the 2015 quarterfinals.
General, Atletico has received solely three of its 10 conferences in opposition to Madrid in UEFA competitions, with 5 losses and two attracts.
Atletico has not misplaced to Actual in 4 consecutive matches, and eradicated town rival within the spherical of 16 of the Copa del Rey final season.
Actual Madrid group information
Actual should cope with out England worldwide Jude Bellingham within the first leg after his reserving within the playoff spherical in opposition to Manchester Metropolis triggered a suspension for 3 yellow playing cards.
Federico Valverde is predicted to return regardless of lacking the defeat by Betis, though Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos stay long-term absentees.
Atletico Madrid group information
Cesar Azpilicueta and Koke are each set to stay sidelined by leg and thigh issues, respectively.
Atletico are in any other case at full energy for the primary leg.
This week 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/LBA1M5HYln
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 3, 2025
