Past meetings: Real Madrid v Atlético in Europe
Sunday, May 7, 2017
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Wednesday's semi-final decider will be Real Madrid and Atlético's ninth European encounter; fans of the Colchoneros may prefer to look away as we recall the previous eight.
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European games between Real Madrid and Atlético have provided their share of drama down the years, but the final outcome has always been the same – with the Merengues coming out on top.
Madrid's record in eight continental meetings – including two UEFA Champions League finals – currently reads W5 D2 L1, with that lone defeat a 1-0 loss that led to a replay victory in the sides' maiden UEFA competition tie.
After last week's 3-0 semi-final first-leg flattening at the Santiago Bernabéu, the history books offer little encouragement for Atlético. In fact, the Colchoneros have yet to score more than once against Madrid in a European match.
Real Madrid 2-1 Atlético
Atlético 1-0 Real Madrid (agg: 2-2, no away goals rule)
Real Madrid 2-1 Atlético (replay at La Romareda, Zaragoza)
1958/59 European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals
Madrid won the home first leg 2-1, Héctor Rial's goal (15) and a Ferenc Puskás penalty (33) overturning Chuzo's 13th-minute opener. Atlético were victorious in the return, though, thanks to Enrique Collar's 43rd-minute effort.
That meant a replay six days later, played in Zaragoza, where Alfredo Di Stéfano's early goal was swiftly cancelled out by Collar. Puskás struck the decisive blow three minutes before half-time to take Madrid into a fourth successive final.
Real Madrid 4-1 Atlético (aet, at Estádio do SL Benfica, Lisbon)
2013/14 UEFA Champions League final
Three goals in extra time ladled a bucket-load of gloss on the victory that completed 'La Décima' – Real Madrid's tenth European Cup – but it would have been Atlético's trophy had Sergio Ramos not cancelled out Diego Godín's strike in the 93rd minute.
Diego Simeone noted: "In life, and in football, you've got everything one day, then you've got nothing the next." Madrid captain Iker Casillas added: "For the effort we've put in, I think we deserve to be kings of Europe."
Atlético 0-0 Real Madrid
Real Madrid 1-0 Atlético (agg: 1-0)
2014/15 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals
Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid finally picked the lock after 178 goalless minutes between the sides, Javier Hernández scoring following Cristiano Ronaldo's burst into the box, with Simeone's Atlético a man downdue to Arda Turan's dismissal.
"It was difficult, as it always is against Atlético," said Ancelotti. As for Simeone, he reflected: "When I was a boy I was taught you have to compete in a game and when I gave everything and lost, I could go home happy."
Real Madrid 1-1 Atlético (Real Madrid win 5-3 on pens, at Stadio San Siro)
2015/16 UEFA Champions League final
Yet more heartbreak for Atlético. Sergio Ramos again came to the fore, putting Madrid in front after just 15 minutes. Though Antoine Griezmann failed to convert a second-half penalty, Simeone's men forced extra time through half-time substitute Yannick Carrasco.
Ultimately, spot kicks were required; Juanfran was the only man to miss, Cristiano Ronaldo – who else? – with the decisive penalty. "This puts a lot of years on you," said Simeone. "Now I have to go home and heal the wounds." Winning coach Zinédine Zidane added: "I dreamt about this. I'm very, very happy to win the Champions League as a player, assistant and now head coach."
Real Madrid 3-0 Atlético
Atlético v Real Madrid
2016/17 UEFA Champions League semi-final
Ronaldo nodded in Casemiro's cross and for a while it seemed the dominant hosts would have to settle for that. However, the Portuguese earned breathing space as he lashed in 17 minutes from time, before all but ending Atlético's ambitions with a hat-trick goal on 86 minutes.
"It's an advantage and, I won't lie, a very good one," Ronaldo told UEFA.com. "But we can't take anything for granted. We have to go into the return leg at the Calderón fully focused. We know football is a box of surprises and so we need to be wary."