The UEFA Champions League has hit the business end of the campaign as Real Madrid play host to cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid in a thrilling opening semi-final derby. Catch all the live scores, highlights and action on The Roar from 4:45am (AEST).
Real will be looking to knock Atletico out of the Champions League for the third season in a row, having clashed in a thrilling finale to the competition last year, with Real getting up in a penalty shootout.
Atletico just snuck their noses ahead to get through the quarter-finals, leaning on their 1-0 home win over Leicester to reach the semifinals once again after taking a one-all draw on the return fixture.
For Real, the big guns of Europe cruised past Napoli (6-2 aggregate) in the Round of 16, before brushing aside German giants Bayern Munich with a final aggregate of six goals to three.
They have found themselves in their seventh Champions League semi-final in a row, a record for the competition.
Despite both sides picking up La Liga wins over the weekend, including a mammoth 5-0 drumming of Las Palmas by Atletico, Real are still 10 points ahead on the ladder, leaving Atletico out of contention for the title.
Despite this, Real coach Zinedine Zidane knows the intensity of the Madrid derby and won’t be taking the 2013/14 domestic champs lightly.
“We’re not favourites. It’s 50-50, as it always is in the knockout stages,” the former French star said.
“We know each other very well. The rivalry with Atleti hasn’t changed since I was a player. It’s a derby in the capital.
“It’s intense, but the rivalry remains the same.”
The defending champs are undefeated in their last 15 Champions League games, including the entire tournament this season so far.
The last time these two met was a La Liga clash just under a month ago at this same venue. It ended in a 1-1 draw.
Team News
Welsh star Gareth Bale has been ruled out after tearing his calf during El Clasico, having initially injured it during their last Champions League game against Bayern Munich.
Real with also be without fiery back Pepe who has been struggling to come back from a nasty collision that saw him break two ribs last month.
For Atletico, Juanfran continues to battle a hamstring injury and will miss out on today’s game.
While Jose Gimenez and Augusto Fernandez are also fighting against thigh and knee injuries respectively.
Prediction
This should be an absolute thriller of a game if recent history is anything to go by. The rivalry between these two is intense.
Real has been dominant in the Champions League and are once again threatening to take the title at domestic level.
It will be hard for Atletico to push them aside on their away leg, but it will be tight regardless.
Real Madrid to win 2-1
Catch all the live scores, highlights and action on The Roar from 4:45am (AEST).
punter
Guest
While Ronaldo made it look easy & it was not a difficult goal to score, it was far from an open net in front of him, he still had to hit it past a Goalkeeper & 2 defenders.
punter
Guest
Ronaldo 3 goals!!!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
Ronaldo now has 8 goals in his last three Champions League games. Atletico had just one shot on target to Real's eight, with 16 total shots for the winners compared to just four for the losers. Atletico are up against it now, with no side ever having come back from even a two goal deficit in Champions League semi finals.
FootballisKing
Guest
Wow. How good is Real Madrid and Ronaldo. 42 hattricks and almost 400 goals for Real in 8 years. Also I start to think that Zinedine Zidane is a fine coach.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Ronaldo now skips clear of Messi for Champions League goals, leading the all-time list with an incredible 103 now. Messi has 94
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME The final whistle sounds and it's a Christiano Ronaldo hattrick that sends Real Madrid into the second leg away from home with a 3-0 advantage. Atletico struggled throughout the entire contest, failing to cause any damage up front and never looking threatening with the ball at their feet around the box. Real dominated the bulk of the contest, and while they made a meal of a few big chances, they were really able to capitalise on sustained pressure. Real Madrid – 3 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 Into the box for Real once again!! Ronaldo is in the middle of the box calling for the cross, but the delivery just takes a deflection and runs behind the hattrick man. They want more. Real Madrid – 3 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +2 Atletico can't get the ball at their feet here. I think they've conceded a goalless outing as they just hang back in defence, allowing Real to knock it down the sidelines. Real Madrid – 3 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +1 Corner for Real and they play it short, punching it close range between three of them before firing off the long cross to the back side for Ronaldo. He wants another one!! Tries to pull off the long range shot on goal but nails a defender instead. Real Madrid – 3 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 minutes of stoppage time. Real Madrid – 3 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
89' Real just winding down the clock now at the back. The last thing they want is to concede an away goal for Atletico this late in the game. Real Madrid – 3 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
88' Luka Modric!!! Maybe they're not done!! He fires off on the volley from the top of the box but he just can't keep it straight. Real Madrid – 3 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
87' Well Atletico look completely deflated now. They'll still carry hope of turning the semi-finals around in the second leg, but that third goal is a massive blow. Real Madrid – 3 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
86' GOAL REAL MADRID!!! That's the final nail in the coffin for Atletico Madrid and you better believe that's a hattrick for Christiano Ronaldo!!! Real on the counter and they have the numbers advantage in the box as Vazquez takes it right up to the back line before sending in a sliding low cross along the face of goal. The ball went straight past the defence coming through and landed at the feet of Ronaldo right in front of goal with an open net in front of him. A simple finish from close range gives him his third. Real Madrid – 3 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
85' Asensio continues to impress down that left wing for Real, again finding open room. Real Madrid – 2 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
84' YELLOW CARD Stefan Savic is given the booking for a very lazy effort on Ronaldo, pushing him over in the back long after he had already passed it away. Real Madrid – 2 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
83' Real on the counter attack, releasing Ronaldo down the left flank with open space to use. The ball comes back into the middle fir the support play... but they're a bit sluggish with movement, finding the back line for a goal kick. Real Madrid – 2 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
82' Atletico pressing hard on the penalty area now, knocking it around all over the place trying to find a way through but they just can't breach the white wall of defence. Real Madrid – 2 Atletico – 0
Connor Bennett
Editor
81' Superb bit of footwork down the left wing from Asensio who beats two defenders and makes his way into the left edge of the box. It's a good cross into the penalty area as well to find Vazquez who just can't guide his one-touch shot at goal. Real Madrid – 2 Atletico – 0