Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid as it happened: Isco leaves Atleti with too much to do despite bright start
Follow the updates as they happened from the Champions League semi-final second-leg at the Vicente Calderon
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Your support makes all the difference.Atletico Madrid have it all to do when they host rivals Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie, having suffered a 3-0 defeat at the Bernabeu last week.
- Five talking points ahead of Atletico and Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final showdown
- Atletico Madrid turn to the Vicente Calderon one last time to inspire the unlikeliest of comebacks
- Atletico Madrid defender Theo Hernandez passes medical at Real Madrid ahead of transfer
- Manchester United want to sign Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak to replace David de Gea
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at 7:45pm on Wednesday 10th May.
Where can I watch it?
It will be shown live on BT Sport 2 with coverage starting at 7pm. Highlights will be shown at 00:00 midnight the same evening.
Preview
Diego Simeone’s hopes of ending his team’s miserable European record against their rivals were dealt a severe blow in the first-leg of this Champions League semi-final tie. Atletico’s opportunity to avenge their defeats at the hands of Real Madrid in two Champions League finals since 2014 are bleak after conceding three without registering an all-important away goal.
While this encounter looks likely to be the last ever European match played at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium, they will be determined to give their supporters something to shout about by making amends for their poor display at the Bernabeu last week.
The Rojiblancos could not have looked further from their usual selves and were out-fought in all departments as Cristiano Ronaldo ran riot at the other end, scoring his 47th career hat trick.
Both sides come into the match on the back of domestic wins; however it is Zidane’s players in the better form, having won all four games since their 2-3 defeat in April’s El Clasico; scoring 15 goals in the process. Real are level on points with table topping Barcelona but have a game in hand, making them favourites for the league title and therefore may choose to rotate slightly, with Sunday’s visit of Sevilla in mind.
Atletico can line up at almost full strength, with no new injuries to contend with. Centre back Gimenez is still out, while both right-backs Juanfran and Vrsaljko will also miss out, leaving it down to Lucas Hernandez to fill in at right-back again.
Real Madrid will see Gareth Bale, who is expected to return to training next week, fall just short of a comeback, while Raphael Varane could be involved subject to tests this week. Dani Carvajal was forced off for the third time in his career against Atletico due to a suspected muscular problem and will not make the second leg.
Overturning the 0-3 deficit is a daunting task for the home side, who will need their fans to create a hostile atmosphere and their players to battle if the visitors are to slip up. It would be uncharacteristic for a Diego Simeone team to take such a defeat lying down, which makes for what will be an interesting game in the Spanish capital.
It’s a big game for…
Antoine Griezmann. While Atletico’s first leg performance as a whole was hugely disappointing, Griezmann has come in for extra criticism simply because he is the player they so heavily rely upon. Failure to even threaten to score an away goal leaves his side’s hopes of progression extremely slim and the Frenchman will need to produce something special to give Atletico even a glimmer of hope.
Best stat
Between 2004 and 2013, there were red cards shown in half of the 22 Madrid derbies played.
Remember when…
Atletico Madrid beat their cross city rivals in two consecutive Liga meetings by a 3-1 scoreline in 1999
Player to watch...
Marcelo. Take a look at Real Madrid’s squad on paper and, even despite how highly rated Marcelo is, he may not be the first player you would consider as the difference maker. In a team which is littered with world class talent, the left-back is in fact instrumental to much of what Los Blancos do going forward, servicing his attackers effectively in wide positions with blistering pace and effective crosses.
He has also significantly improved as a defender as the seasons have passed and has become the ultimate all-rounder in his position.
Past three meetings…
Real Madrid 3 Atletico Madrid 0
Champions League, May 2017
Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 1
La Liga, April 2017
Atletico Madrid 0 Real Madrid 3
La Liga, November 2016
Form
Atletico Madrid: WLWLW
Real Madrid: LWWWW
Odds
Atletico Madrid to win: 31/20
Real Madrid to win: 8/5
Draw: 49/20
41 mins: GOAL!
Atletico 2 Real 1 (ISCO)
Benzema gets out of the corner far too easily against what is supposed to be a sturdy defence and he finds Kroos, who sees his shot saved brilliantly by Oblak. But there is Isco to cleverly finish. Atletico now need five to go through!
44 mins: Watching that finish from Isco, even though it was only from a yard or two, was so so clever. He had the piece of mind to look up and dink the ball into the corner rather than just poke it anywhere, with Oblak still filling most of the goal.
Atletico are in danger of losing their rag a bit now. Torres has followed through on Navas and is now picking a fight with Ronaldo - who just smiles at him.
Half time
This tie looks dead now. The frantic start which brought two Atletico goals and half a city of hope was smothered in one swift Karim Benzema-inspired move which was finished by Isco. Real closed the half out well as Atleti threatened to lose their cool.
45 mins: And we're back underway! Real Madrid players looking a lot more relaxed but can Atletico summon the energy they showed at the start of the first half?
47 mins: Ronaldo with a free-kick from about five yards from the byline and he forces a good save from Oblak! He couldn't have struck that much sweeter from that angle!
49 mins: Now Atletico have a free-kick on the edge of the box! A clumsy tackle from Isco. Can Griezmann punish him? It's the perfect position for a left-footer... But it's too high!
54 mins: It's a quieter start to this half but Isco has another good chance but drags his shot wide from the edge of the box.
Atletico are making a double change - Torres off for Kevin Gameiro and Gimenez off for Thomas Parte
61 mins: Real are asking questions about a second yellow card for Gabi after yet another player is left in a heap on the floor. The referee says no but don't be surprised if frustrations boil over at some point.
65 mins: The Calderon is still bouncing but Atletico are lacking in inspiration. They need it from somewhere.
On a separate note, how can Zidane drop Isco for the final (should Real make it)?! Gareth Bale will be fit again an in his home city but the Spaniard has yet again been Real's best player. Food for thought...
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