Who: Actual Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
What: UEFA Champions League spherical of 16, first leg tie
When: Tuesday, March 4 at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
The place: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
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The Madrid derby takes centre stage within the Champions League spherical of 16, with Atletico Madrid in a commanding place to attempt to lastly get the very best of rival Actual Madrid within the European competitors.
Actual, the document 15-time European champion and present holders, have been a thorn for Atletico within the Champions League over time, beating the town rival in two finals.
However this Atletico arrives for Tuesday’s first leg on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium enjoying a few of its greatest soccer since coach Diego Simeone took over greater than a decade in the past, and exhibiting confidence that it will possibly meet the longtime rivals head-on.
What’s Actual Madrid’s tackle recreation?
Actual Madrid star Vinicius Junior mentioned his staff face early elimination from the Champions League in the event that they make any errors in opposition to Atletico Madrid of their final 16 tie.
Madrid misplaced 2-1 in opposition to Actual Betis on Saturday in LaLiga and Vinicius mentioned their weak efficiency couldn’t be repeated in Europe.
“I feel within the final recreation, we lacked a little bit of every part… we made too many errors, we defended badly and did every part badly,” the winger informed a information convention on Monday.
“It’s higher it occurred within the final recreation, as tomorrow we will make no errors as a result of these are knockout video games the place you make a mistake and also you’re going dwelling, and we don’t need to go dwelling so early.
“We’re right here to maintain enhancing our recreation and to place in a great efficiency tomorrow.”
Actual coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned he hoped the slip-up in opposition to Betis was a one-time challenge earlier than the derby.
“We lacked perspective within the recreation in opposition to Betis. I hope it was an remoted incident,” Ancelotti informed reporters. “It’s a very even tie and will probably be determined within the second leg. It’s a good recreation, [it will be] hard-fought.”
Ancelotti praised his reverse quantity and highlighted Atletico coach Diego Simeone’s strengths.
“What I like is the best way he reads video games, how he units up his staff, his technique, the defensive grit his gamers have – I like all of that,” mentioned Ancelotti.
What are Atletico’s possibilities in opposition to Actual Madrid?
Simeone admitted that Atletico’s metropolis rivals have the extra illustrious historical past however backed his personal staff to ship forward of their tantalising tie.
Atletico have by no means received the Champions League, ending as runners-up on three events. In the meantime, Madrid are thought of the “kings of Europe”, and the man rivals from LaLiga, Barcelona, have lifted the trophy 5 occasions.
“I all the time put Barcelona and Actual Madrid the place they’re due to their historical past, so nothing has modified,” Simeone informed reporters on Monday. “They each have an amazing historical past and we’re pure progress, which may be very good.
“As we all the time relate conditions to historical past, and historical past exists, Actual Madrid’s historical past within the Champions League is extraordinary, and tomorrow, we have now an enormous alternative.”
Atletico are battling with Spain’s massive two for the LaLiga title and are presently second, one level behind Barca and two forward of Los Blancos.
Simeone’s aspect are additionally but to lose a match this season in opposition to both Actual or Barcelona. Within the Spanish league, they beat the Catalan membership 2-1 in Barcelona and drew 1-1 in each video games they performed in opposition to Actual.
“I see a recreation with a whole lot of respect in opposition to an excellent opponent and I feel they respect us in the identical approach,” mentioned the coach. “All of the earlier video games could have no affect in any respect – that is the Champions League.
“If we performed in opposition to a staff that wasn’t in our league, we’d not get into that… I feel for the town, for Madrid, it’s spectacular that Atletico and Actual Madrid are going through off.”
How is new-look Champions League shaping up?
The spherical of 16 will start this week to cap the inaugural season of a brand new Champions League format that has featured a league section and a playoff spherical.
The opposite last-16 matchups will embody the native rivalry of German golf equipment Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, and powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, who topped the league section, going in opposition to one another.
Atletico completed fifth within the league section, whereas Madrid was solely eleventh and needed to play additional playoff video games in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
Head-to-head
The final time Atletico confronted Madrid within the Champions League, it was eradicated within the semifinals in 2017. It additionally misplaced to Madrid within the finals in 2014 and 2016, and within the 2015 quarterfinals.
Total, Atletico has received solely three of its 10 conferences in opposition to Madrid in UEFA competitions, with 5 losses and two attracts.
Atletico has not misplaced to Actual in 4 consecutive matches, and eradicated the town rival within the spherical of 16 of the Copa del Rey final season.
Actual Madrid staff information
Actual should cope with out England worldwide Jude Bellingham within the first leg after his reserving within the playoff spherical in opposition to Manchester Metropolis triggered a suspension for 3 yellow playing cards.
Federico Valverde is predicted to return regardless of lacking the defeat by Betis, though Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos stay long-term absentees.
Atletico Madrid staff information
Cesar Azpilicueta and Koke are each set to stay sidelined by leg and thigh issues, respectively.
Atletico are in any other case at full power for the primary leg.
This week 🍿#UCL pic.twitter.com/LBA1M5HYln
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 3, 2025
