Madrid derby highlights Champions League round of 16

MADRID (AP):

THE MADRID derby takes centre stage in the round of 16 of the Champions League, with Atletico Madrid in a commanding position to try to finally get the best of rival Real Madrid in the European competition.

Madrid, the record 15-time European champions, have been a thorn for Atletico in the Champions League over the years, beating the city rivals in two finals and eliminating them from the competition the other two times they faced off in the knockout rounds.

But this Atletico arrive for today’s first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium playing some of their best football since coach Diego Simeone took over more than a decade ago, and showing the confidence that they can take on the long-time rivals head-on.

The round of 16 will begin this week to cap the inaugural season of a new Champions League format that featured a league phase and a play-off round.

The other last-16 matchups will include the local rivalry of German clubs Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, and powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool going against each other.

Atletico Madrid enter the match against Madrid in good form and enjoying one of their best seasons under Simeone. The team are ahead of their rivals in the Spanish league standings, and are only one point behind leaders Barcelona.

Atletico haven’t lost any of their matches this season against either Madrid or Barcelona. In the Spanish league, they beat the Catalan club 2-1 in Barcelona and drew 1-1 in both games they played against Madrid. Atletico haven’t lost to Madrid in four consecutive matches, having eliminated the city rivals in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey last season.

GREAT RIVAL

“It’s a match with a lot of respect, against a great rival, who respects us in the same way,” Simeone said yesterday.

“For the city of Madrid it is spectacular that the two teams face each other and, for Spain, having a team in the quarterfinals is going to be fantastic.”

Simeone’s team finished fifth in the league phase of the Champions League, while Madrid were only 11th and had to play extra play-off games against Manchester City.

The last time Atletico faced Madrid in the Champions League, they were eliminated in the semifinals in 2017. They also lost to Madrid in the final both in 2014 and 2016, and in the 2015 quarterfinals.

Overall, Atletico have won only three of their 10 meetings against Madrid in UEFA competitions, with five losses and two draws.

“The derby is always a special match,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “They are always very even and very competitive matches, and it’s going to be like that again tomorrow [Tuesday]. Atletico is having a very good season.”

Madrid are coming off a loss at Real Betis in the Spanish league, while Atletico won 1-0 against Athletic Bilbao.

Today’s Games

Brugge vs Villa (12:45 p.m.)

Madrid vs Atletico (3:00 p.m.)

PSV vs Arsenal (3:00 p.m.)

Dortmund vs LOSC (3:00 p.m.)