Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid – a prediction

How many great clashes have we seen between these two teams over the last 5 to 10 years?

It’s easy to overlook the impressive achievements of Real Madrid because they have so much money at their disposal. They have nevertheless remained pre-eminent in Spain and in Europe for such a long time now – not least because of the sensational talents of Cristiano Ronaldo.

He has been the spearhead for Los Blancos for eight years and without him they simply wouldn’t have achieved as much. Yet still he gets booed by some of the supporters and it’s quite incredible that his own fans could be so disrespectful of one who has done so much for them.

And if one man has been utterly crucial to Atletico Madrid is not a player but the manager – Diego Simeone.

He has confounded the budgets of other clubs by staying apace with Real Madrid and Barcelona every season is that he has managed the club.

It will be a true tragedy if he ever leaves Atletico Madrid because he just generates so much inspiration, energy, resilience and attacking vigour in his side and you feel that there is only one way that the team can go if you does depart.

Real Madrid are of course favourites over the two legs but most neutrals want to see Atletico Madrid defeat their powerful neighbours.

And TFF feels, as ever, that there will not be a clear-cut winner. This will be a gruelling 180 minutes at least and both teams go into the match on good form. We have to believe that Real Madrid will edge it over the two legs simply because they have more firepower up top. Cristiano Ronaldo will march toward the end of a sensational career by getting to another Champions League final.

And we think that Real will take a slight lead into the second leg.

TFF Prediction: Real Madrid 2 – 1 Atletico Madrid