How, under Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid have got the better of rivals Real Madrid

As a man who has lifted the European Cup five times as player and coach, Carlo Ancelotti should face few problems on European football’s biggest stage. Perhaps his biggest lies in wait at the Vicente Calderon tonight.

When the Italian guided Real Madrid to their much sought-after tenth European crown in Lisbon last summer he joined Bob Paisley as the only manager to win club football’s biggest prize three times as a manager. His two successes during his playing days at AC Milan ensured his overall record is surpassed only by Francisco Gento, who lifted the trophy six times as a player during Madrid’s glory years in the late 1950s and early 60s. If there is a ‘Special One’ in terms of European success, Ancelotti is surely it.

Alongside Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Madrid are the favourites to be crowned European champions in Berlin in June and if the Spanish giants do manage to lift their eleventh title it will also mean they become the first side to successfully defend their title in the competition’s current format.

The 55-year-old has been there and bought the t-shirt. His face exuded calm when his technical staff, Zinedine Zidane and Englishman Paul Clement included, lost their heads after Sergio Ramos’ historical stoppage-time equaliser in last season’s dramatic final against city rivals Atletico Madrid. Further goals from Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo ensured victory for Madrid and brought to an end a memorable but seemingly one-off season for their less illustrious neighbours from the Spanish capital.

Ancelotti came out on top against Diego Simeone but only just. Many believed Atleti’s time dining at the top table was at the end as key men such as Diego Costa, Thibaut Courtois and Felipe Luis moved on and Madrid, as well as Barcelona, only strengthened. The belief may have been a popular one but it was not one shared by Ancelotti.

The former Chelsea boss is a hugely successful veteran of the competition while Simeone is the relative new kid of the block but it was the Madrid boss waxing lyrical about the man in the opposing dugout ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter-final tie between the sides. "He is a great coach and has shown this in many ways,” said the Italian. “He is one of the best in the world and it’s an honour to come up against him, but at the same time it’s a problem too".

open image in gallery

That problem has stretched back over six winless games for Ancelotti this season but it has stretched back for Madrid ever since Simeone was appointed Atleti boss back in December 2011 for Madrid. The reigning La Liga champions ended a 14-year winless run in derby matches in the most emphatic of fashions when they saw off Jose Mourinho’s Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in May 2013. Since then the tables have turned with Los Rojiblancos enjoying five wins to Madrid’s three. The best was a 4-0 humbling of their neighbours in the league in February.

That cup final victory finally ended the derby day ‘curse’ Atletico believed had been placed upon them and the tables have turned so emphatically that Atleti could even be labelled as favourites ahead of tonight’s match. Tonight’s match will be the seventh of the season between the capital clubs and Atletico have not lost one, making Simeone’s side the first ever to face Madrid in six competitive matches in one season and not lose one. They did the same to Barcelona last season, too, but Espanyol had achieved that feat before them.

open image in gallery

So when Atletico’s name came out of the hat to face Madrid at the quarter-final stage it was perhaps the draw that Ancelotti feared most. Simeone has found a way to beat Madrid and he has found a way to do it consistently. The frustrating thing for the Madrid boss is that there is no secret to the way Atleti perform and Madrid still have not been able to find a way to topple their noisy neighbours.

Atleti are strong, well organised and play the game right up until its very limits. That has been met with some criticism from Madrid but that has only been used to cover the frustration. The most recent defeats have been met with apologies to their fans and a determination to redress the balance in the Spanish capital. Whether that happens over the next two matches, the seventh and eighth meetings of the season between the rivals, remains to be seen.

Despite Atleti’s dominance this season Madrid still won the one that mattered most. Dropping six points to Simeone’s side may have harmed Madrid’s title chances this season but they are still in the title race and, ironically, Atleti can still help their neighbours out if they take points from Barcelona in the penultimate match of the campaign. That 4-1 victory in Lisbon, the one that clinched ‘La Decima’ for Madrid and broke Atleti hearts last May, is the one that matters most for Madrid.

open image in gallery

It is no secret that Atleti’s success is built on a stubborn defence. Courtois and Luis may have left for Chelsea but Simeone’s still remain stubborn at the back. Madrid have played at the Calderon three times across all competitions this season and while they have lost all three, they have failed to score in all three too. They only managed one Karim Benzema shot on target in the 4-0 loss in February.

Simeone’s side may not be keepers of the ball of the ilk of Barcelona but they have also won the midfield battle in recent meetings between the sides. The hard work of the front two of Antoine Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic in helping a well-drilled midfield four has overpowered a three-man midfield that Ancelotti sticks stubbornly to. Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale do not offer the same work rate as Atleti’s attacking powers.

It is not all about the defence, however. Atleti may have lost Costa’s goals to the Premier League but in Griezmann they have made arguably the signing of the season in La Liga. The Frenchman was also praised for his performances at Real Sociedad but his Argentine coach has made him play the ‘Atleti way’, with hard-work complementing his undoubted skill and flair. The French international is in the form of his life ahead of tonight’s game with 21 goals to his name this term and he has forged a strong partnership with the experienced Mario Mandzukic.

The sense of revenge is mixed into tonight’s derby duel. Atletico have used the pain of their crushing final loss last term to power performances this season while Madrid have the unwanted record of failing to beat their neighbours in six matches this term. That 4-0 league loss hit harder than the others.

Simeone will look to give Ancelotti another problem tonight but the Italian is out to tip the momentum of European football’s biggest derby rivalry back in Madrid’s favour. Given how frequently the capital clubs have locked horns this season the first leg may be a guarded affair by the Manzanares river but the tie over 180 minutes is set to be another cracker. The mutual respect that is shared between both managers probably won’t extend to the players and fans.