MY TAKE ON THE UCL FINAL

MY TAKE ON THE UCL FINAL

It’s the tournament’s best attack (Real Madrid) vs the tournament’s best defence (Atletico Madrid).

Real Madrid has 37 goals in the entire competition with 1 penalty and 4 headed goals. 32 have come from inside the area and 5 from outside.

Atletico on the other hand are the second most prolific with 25 with 1 penalty and 4 headed goals. 21 have come from inside the area and 5 from outside.

Of all the 37 goals Madrid have scored in the campaign so far, Benzema and Di Maria have all assisted 5 apiece with Ronaldo and Bale assisting 4.

The fitness of R2B’s otherwise well acclaimed as BBC is key.

They are very key to Madrid. One other player who could be more pivotal is Luka Modric. How does he orchestrate things in the middle for Madrid in the absence of Xabi Alonso.

Who will he play with….Illaramendi..Casemiro..Khedira..is also important.
Whoever Ancelotti selects into the midfield must integrate very well with Modric to make sure things work well.

For Atletico their compactiveness  has been key to how opposition teams finds it difficult to break them. Conceding just 6 goals in the entire campaign is a clear testimony.

It is difficult to reserve special praise for a specific face, is it the reliable Courtois or the telepathic pair of Diego Godin and Miranda?? Atletico's defence has been resolute and and has been hailed as a finesse in this season's campaign.

Atletico have been good defensive wise and have even improved midfield wise.

They play with character and resilience. Never giving up ..it could be key to how successful they can be with their mission in this game.

It is a test for Atletico’s defence sametime Madrid's attack.

Whoever reigns supreme will need a mastermind behind the success.

Tactically Diego Simeone has exhibited sheer tactical brilliance at very delicate situations in this season's tournament. Specific emphasis can be laid on their startling comeback at the Stamford bridge against Chelsea.

Diego Simeone has character and he's successfully imbibed into his players his nature. 

Known in his playing days as a fighter ...atletico never give up and the tendency of them not succumbing to defeat easily is reminiscent of Simeone's nature.

As to who has the tactical nous between him and Ancelotti...its debatable...
In terms of league meetings this season, Simeone had the upper hand with a win at the Bernabeu and a draw....

In the Copa Del Rey  semis ...Ancelotti's Madrid prevailed with a 5nil aggregate win over their rivals in two legs enroute to the final...

In totality...Ancelotti has won twice..drawn once and lost once against Simeone.

Ancelotti’s experience in the competition as a player and coach also will help the Madrid cause, he guided AC Milan to UEFA Champions League glory in 2003 and 2007 and lost in the 2005 final, and also won two as a player in 1989 and 1990.

He can emulate Bob Paisley (Liverpool FC 1977, 1978, 1981) as the only coach to have won the trophy three times.

Ancelotti can also emulate the achievements of Ottmar Hitzfeld (Dortmund 1997, Bayern 2001), Ernst Happel (Feyenoord 1970, Hamburger SV 1983), José Mourinho (FC Porto 2004, FC Internazionale Milano 2010) and Jupp Heynckes (Real Madrid 1998, Bayern 2013) as the only coaches to have landed the trophy with two clubs.

For Diego Simeone winning the trophy will make him only the third non-European coach to achieve such feat – the first two were also Argentinian, namely Luis Carniglia (Madrid 1958, 1959) and Helenio Herrera (FC Internazionale Milano 1964, 1965).

History in cup matches favours Atleti who have won 4 out of 5 Copa del Rey Finals against Real Madrid.
The last time Madrid won.. was in 1975 via penalties.
Atleti were triumphant in the 1960, 1961, 1992 and 2012 finals.

I have a feeling Madrid will win the La Decima but it won't come easy against their city rivals.

With the quality in Madrid's set up.. I envisage Iker Casillas lifting the trophy in Lisbon this evening...

However extra time is possible and even penalties...