Owen tips Real Madrid to beat Atletico, win Champions League
Michael Owen thinks that his former club Real Madrid are favourites for yet more Champions League glory as they face their local rivals Atletico Madrid in the semi-final today.
Real Madrid knocked Bayern Munich out in the quarter finals in a 6-3 aggregate win and are in the last four with their neighbours, as well as Juventus and Monaco.
Atletico Madrid have lost two finals in three years against their city rivals and Owen, who is now a football expert for BT Sport, thinks that Real Madrid’s toughness in big games is what them ahead of all clubs in Europe - even likes of even Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
“Real Madrid are favourites but it is no forgone conclusion, I’d wouldn’t say they were strong favourites,” Owen told Goal. “You have got to fancy Real Madrid for the competition now, some of the big boys are out.
“Barcelona, Bayern Munich in particular. Real Madrid are a real mixture between the two teams. Barcelona have some of the most individual talented players in the world and Bayern have got the greatest depth in their squad in the world.
“I just think that Madrid have got more resilient than Barcelona. Maybe less flair but more resilience in the big games. I think they can dig it out when they need to. They dig results out. They are a mixture between the two teams.
“I think they will go on and win it again. The semi-finals will be interesting. Monaco are a really free-flowing team. Juventus are strong and experienced. Atletico Madrid have been in two of the last three finals. They are reliable and it is a fascinating competition.”