Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will meet in the Champions League Final on May 24, after Ronaldo blitzed past Bayern Munich and Atletico decimated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Lisbon will witness an enticing Madrid Derby on 24th May as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid take their rivalry to new heights, on the grandest stage of football.
Recap from first legs »
Bayern were looking to overturn a one-goal deficit at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, though the final outcome of Real’s riot-run was the opposite to Pep’s master plans.
After Karim Benzema’s lone goal the week prior, which gave Real Madrid the slender lead going into the hotly-anticipated second installment, Bayern were eager to attack on all fronts.
However, it would be Real Madrid that would, truly, demonstrate their attacking prowess.
Sergio Ramos’ double in the space of four minutes turned the game, in fact the whole tie, on its head. His 16th minute header from a set-piece, would be followed by a similar one in four minutes later to expose a devastating vulnerability in Bayern’s eyes.
Running a tight-rope through the game, the Spaniard successfully avoided a booking that would have ruled him out of the final. The same can’t be said for his Spanish compatriot Xabi Alonso, booked for a reckless foul on Bayern’s skipper, meaning he is ineligible to play in Lisbon on 24 May.
Real Madrid’s third goal on the 34th minute would epitomize their incredible counter-attacking ability. Gareth Bale blazed past Bayern players with an incredible run, before squaring it across to Cristiano Ronaldo, where the Portugese-native struck low to get even closer to a Champions League final on his home nation.
Surprisingly, Bayern Munich looked to adopt a more defensive approach in order to reserve any more humiliation. As for their attacking, they didn’t have much of a chance as Franck Ribery’s slump continued and Mario Mandzukic was extremely lackluster.
One final blow would be delivered by Cristiano Ronaldo. It was the last crumbling turn for Bayern, as he struck it low, straight under the wall and leaving keeper Neuer a bystander.
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| Ronaldo scored his 500th goal for Madrid AFP |
Things were delicately poised at Stamford Bridge for Atletico’s clash with Chelsea. Things were goalless when the full-time whistle blew back at the Vicente Calderon, but in a more open game, the net was expected to bulge more than once.
For the first goalless 36 minutes, both sides were reluctant to sit back and welcome pressure, resulting in half-chances here and there around the pitch.
Fernando Torres scored against his former club which injected masses of belief that Chelsea were on course to face Real in the final – the Spaniard didn’t celebrate, but stood calmly in silence possibly knowing that the Blues were on course.
Adrian Lopez ensured that both sides would be on level terms in the game, though his goal gave Atletico the advantage. Squared across the box, kept in just, it would fall to Adrian who struck it cleanly enough to go well into goal.
Thibaut Courtois was a major factor as he denied John Terry’s powering header with a superb save. This would keep Atletico on course to take real control after the hour mark.
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| Costa’s penalty the ‘final blow’ PA IMAGES |
Samuel Eto’o fouled Diego Costa in the box awarding Atletico a penalty. Flattened when contending, Costa took his time to adjust the penalty spot, since there was some blemish in the pitch that made it awkward for the Spaniard.
Diego Costa was booked, but then took a World class penalty to amend it and put Atletico well ahead.
“Till the penalty we were the better team”, Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports after the match. Atletico indeed took control after Costa’s killer blow.
Over ten minutes over and only a miracle would save Chelsea, as Arda Turan’s low strike brought blues to, well, the Blues. Turan’s initial header hit the woodwork but it fell out to him nicely to tuck it home.
It was all Atletico as they cruised to a historic Madrid derby in the Champions League final. With both also in full contention for the La Liga title, its going to be very interesting come the Lisbon showdown.
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| They will meet again in Lisbon, Portugal. |
Too fast
Real Madrid completely outpaced Bayern Munich, even with Robben and Ribery, to completely outdo them. Anytime they picked up the ball on the counter they posed a huge threat. Bale and Ronaldo are an extraordinary tandem, and they proved it against Europe’s (then) best team.
Killer blows
Cristiano Ronaldo’s low free-kick in the 89th minute was the dagger to Bayern, bringing about humiliation for the gigantic German. Neuer, like Bayern throughout the game, provided perfect imagery – standing helpless as the ball raced into the net. It just showed how much Bayern had been outdone.
In the other game, Diego Costa’s penalty was the killer blow, as it gave Atletico complete threshold in the game. Arda Turan’s strike was a statement that has them ready.
Visitors thrive
They came, and they went – with a place in the final.
After both were either sucked in or played a gameplan in the first game back at home, they ran riot away to dampen home fans.
Tactics out the window
Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho were more tactically-orientated managers, yet their plans went out of the window when faced with the onslaughts from the Madrid sides. They may have managed to get something out of the other games, but tactics didn’t mean much this time.
History
Lisbon’s Champions League final will be historic – Real Madrid in the final for the first time in 10 years. Atletico for the first time in 40. And a Madrid Derby in the European final for the first time ever. Madrid reigns supreme.
Bayern plummet, Chelsea crumble and Madrid thrive – they’ve rightly sealed their showdown on the biggest stage in football.
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