Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid as it happened: Cristiano Ronaldo blows rivals away with hat-trick
Re-live the action from the Bernabeu
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Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid meet cross-city rivals Atletico in the Champions League for the third time in four seasons, with Diego Simeone’s Rojiblancos looking for revenge after their defeats in the 2014 and 2016 finals.
- Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone remains confident ahead of Real Madrid match despite untimely injury crisis
- Cristiano Ronaldo scores one and misses a penalty as Real Madrid stay in La Liga hunt with late winner
- Atletico Madrid can heal old wounds against Real Madrid but face their rivals with everything to lose
- Barcelona complain to authorities after Malaga owner and coach suggest they will let Real Madrid win the league
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What time does it start?
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid kicks off at 7.45pm BST on Tuesday 2 May.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 2 from 7.00pm BST.
Highlights will be shown on the same channel at midnight.
Preview
Simeone’s side have asserted themselves as a serious force in Europe, having reached two finals in three years but losing both to their cross city rivals.
Real’s demolition of Bayern Munich in the previous round was impressive even despite some questionable refereeing decisions. They will be tough to stop, but their opponents themselves looked as tough to beat as ever, crushing Leicester’s fairytale to win their quarter-final 2-1 overall.
Zinedine Zidane is under increasing pressure despite guiding Real Madrid to their 11th Champions League triumph in his debut season. Barcelona currently sit top of La Liga after their recent clasico victory, which leaves Real level on points with a game in hand.
It’s a big game for…
Lucas Hernandez, who will deputise for the injured Juanfran. The young defender will have his hands full trying to contain Real Madrid’s attacking compliment in what will be his second Champions League appearance against them, having come on as a late substitute in last season’s final. A good performance will help to justify the improved contract he recently signed, which runs until 2022.
Best stat…
Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last seven European ties against Spanish clubs, while Atletico are unbeaten in all five of their previous European Cup semi-finals.
Remember when…
The 1958/59 European Cup semi-final ended in a 2-2 aggregate draw, so the tie was decided by a replay, which Real Madrid won 2-1 via goals from Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas.
Player to watch
Cristiano Ronaldo. It is hard to look past the Real Madrid talisman, who has scored seven goals in 10 Champions League appearances this season including five of his side’s goals in their 6-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the previous round.
Past three-meetings
Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 1
La Liga, April 2017
Atletico Madrid 0 Real Madrid 3
La Liga, November 2016
Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 1 (5-3 on penalties)
Champions League final, May 2016
Form
Real Madrid: WWLWW
Atletico Madrid: WLWDW
Odds
Provided by 888 Sport
Real Madrid to win: 7/9
Atletico Madrid to win: 4/1
Draw: 45/17
Good evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of tonight's Champions League semi-final clash between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
We'll be bringing you all the build-up, updates and goals from what should be a thrilling night at the Bernabeu so make sure to stay tuned!
Team news to follow.
And for the traditionalists...
Real Madrid: Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro, Modrić, Isco, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Subs: Casilla, Nacho, James Rodríguez, Kovačić, Vázquez, Asensio, Morata.
Atlético Madrid: Oblak, Lucas Hernández, Savić, Godin, Filipe Luis, Koke, Gabi, Saúl Ñíguez, Carrasco, Griezmann, Gameiro.
Subs: Moyà, Tiago, Torres, Correa, Thomas, Gaitán, Alberto Rodríguez.
Referee: Martin Atkinson (England).
Before delving into tonight's proceedings, it's worth casting our eyes over the subtext to this eagerly-anticipated Champions League clash. This is the fifth time Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid have met in the European Cup, of which the former have won the previous four ties. No wonder Atletico have become known as el pupas - the jinxed ones.
While Atletico's men have excelled against their city rivals in La Liga in recent years, the Champions League has very much become their kryptonite. No team have eliminated Simeone’s men from Europe but their greatest rivals. Asked what would be different this time, Gabi said: “We hope the result will be.” Fingers crossed, eh, lads?
"Along with Sergio Ramos so gleefully pointing to the Real Madrid fans, and fullback Juanfran so poignantly pleading forgiveness from the Atletico Madrid supporters, it remains one of the evocative lasting images of the 2016 Champions League final: the rare sight of Diego Simeone, not just defeated but properly dejected. This was not like the 2014 defeat to Real, when he could so assuredly point to the Spanish league title won. It was a much more bitter and symbolic defeat...."
An excellent read, this, via our very own Miguel Delaney. Read on, ladies and gentlemen:
More on the teams...
Real make two changes to the starting XI named for their 2-1 victory over Valencia last weekend. Raphael Varane returns from a hamstring injury while Isco gets the call up from the bench. Good for him.
Atletico also make two changes from their 5-0 drumming of Las Palmas. Diego Godin and Yannick Carrasco return, with Jose Gimenez out through injury and Nicolas Gaitan dropped to the bench.
Here's a cheeky look into the two dressing rooms ahead of kick-off this evening...
First the home dressing room, with handy pictures of the players for members of the squad that struggle to read their own names:
And here's the decidedly more modest away dressing room:
And finally, outside the ground, here are two supporters with all the official club merchandise you could possibly wish for - except for a licensed replica club shirt. We spot your fake shirt from a mile away, Atletico fan.
So what have the managers been saying...
Even though history shines favourably on Real Madrid, manager Zinedine Zidane has said his side cannot rely on the past as he seeks to secure a second Champions League title at the club.
"Atletico always gives us a hard game," said the former France midfielder.
"The strength they have is that they never give up, no matter what happens. They fight, battle, they know their strengths and use them as best they can.
"In the past four or five years they have been a very good side that have improved every year.
"What happened in the past is in the past, we can't rely on that now. The extra motivation comes from it being a Champions League semi-final."
So what have the managers been saying...
Despite his side's current injury crisis, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is remaining positive ahead of tonight's clash.
“Encontraremos las soluciones,” Simeone replied when quizzed on his numerous injury headaches this week: “We are staying positive.”
“The absences are important because it will be a new situation for the player who will have to play in that position,” he added. “But this is a team sport and the rest of the squad can make up for that.”
“I see a match in which they make a strong start. We will have to take the match to where we feel more comfortable and we will put together a team that competes with the heart of any fan of Atletico de Madrid.”