Real finally break the Atletico stranglehold
MADRID – Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has been a constant thorn in Real Madrid ’ s side this season but Wednesday ’ s Champions League clash at the Bernabeu was a bridge too far for the Argentine and his overachieving side.
Atletico had a chance to eliminate the team who beat them in last season ’ s final but after holding Real to a 0-0 draw in last week ’ s quarterfinal, first leg at the Calderon they barely threatened in the return at the Bernabeu.
A Javier Hernandez strike two minutes from time, after Atletico had Arda Turan sent off for a second booking, put the holders through to the last four 1-0 on aggregate and ended a run of seven matches this season in which they had failed to win against their city rivals.
Simeone has transformed Atletico into contenders in Spain and Europe since taking over at the end of 2011 and their record against Real, the world ’ s richest club by income, this term is astonishing considering the gulf in resources.
Real ’ s squad is worth ß711million, according to website Transfermarkt.de, more than twice as much as Atletico, whose squad has a market value of ß338- million.
Atletico ’ s task now is to hold on to third place in La Liga and secure an automatic berth in the Champions League group stage for the 2015-2016 campaign.
A place in Europe ’ s elite club competition, and the riches it brings with it, is crucial to Atletico ’ s chances of competing with the elite in Spain and Europe.
“The goals are the ones we always had,” Simeone told a news conference.
“Winning the Super Cup at the beginning of the year, and closing it with the third place, which is obviously what the club needs.
“The club comes out of this stronger.
“We are among the eight best clubs in Europe, which is not easy to achieve.”
Atletico are third in La Liga on 69 points, four ahead of fourthplaced Valencia, and host Elche tomorrow.
Real are away to Celta Vigo on Sunday. Cordoba v Athletic Club (8.45pm) TOMORROW Espanyol v Barcelona (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Elche (6pm), Getafe v Levante (8pm), Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10pm) SUNDAY Malaga v Deportivo La Coruna (noon), Almeria v Eibar (5pm), Sevilla v Rayo Vallecano (7pm), Celta Vigo v Real Madrid (9pm). Reuters