Milan all set to host battle between Atletico and Real
Milan is known for its museums, theaters and historical buildings. But come Sunday, the San Siro museum will witness 22 footballers fight for the most prestigious club football silverware — Champions League, the antiques of Atletico Madrid coach, Diego Simeone, and Real Madrid boss, Zinedine Zidane, will be on display in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza theater and at the end of the 90 minutes the Madrid Derby will leave behind a slice of history in the beautiful Italian city.
Usually a Madrid Derby is played in the Spanish capital but this time around — for a second time in three years — the Derby will be played outside Madrid as Atletico Madrid take on Real Madrid in the Champions League title clash. ATLETICO LOOK TO CASH-IN Atletico Madrid, who defeated Bayen Munich in the semifinals, will look to avenge their 1-4 loss to the Los Blancos in the 2014 Champions League final. Simeone’s men looked relaxed as the team took to training and put through their yards and would look to cash-in with the extra days off.
It will be a big day for the likes of Antoine Griezmann, mid-fielder Koke and skipper Gabi. Griezmann has scored 16 goals for the Rojiblancos this season in the Champions League while Koke and Gabi will have their task cut out against the like of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale. But all eyes will be on one man, Fernando Torres, who has not won a Champions League with his boyhood club. The Spaniard has won the Champions League and Europa League with Chelsea but not one such title in Atleti colours. Zuzu’s men are no strangers to a stage as big as the Champions League final. 10 of their 11 players — who are likely to start for the Blancos in the final — have played in a Champions League title clash. In fact, Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale, Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Marcelo, Luka Modric, Isco, Alvaro Arbeloa and Raphael Varane had helped Real clinch the Decima in 2014. Toni Kross on the other hand, won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2013.
All eyes will be on the BBC — Bale, Benzema and Cristiano — as they would take the field to help Real lift the trophy for the 11thtime. Another player to watch out from the Blancos will be skipper Ramos, whose goal made all the difference in the 2014 summit clash. Zidane and Simeone — midfield rivals in their hay days — will be up against each other on the sidelines when their wards clash in the final. The Frenchman has the upper hand as a player — winning individual, country and club trophies — over the Argentine. But on Sunday it will be a battle of wits between two of the finest coaches in Spain.
Will ATM be able to cashin or will BBC go on air and paint the town white, only time will tell.