Real brace for Atletico fight Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale

MILAN. — As soon as the final whistle confirmed Real Madrid’s berth in the Champions League soccer final against local rivals Atletico with a 1-0 aggregate victory over Manchester City on Wednesday night, memories of 2014’s all-Spanish final came flooding back.

Sergio Ramos headed in a 93rd-minute equaliser in Lisbon to crush Atletico’s dreams of a first ever continental crown and put Real on their way to a 4-1 extra time victory that sealed ‘La Decima’, the 10th European Cup they had coveted for so long.

“It’s another final and it’s taken a lot to get there but we’ve proven we know how to win it and we’re going to try and do it again,” Ramos said, looking ahead to the May 28 showdown in Milan.

Having barely had time to digest their narrow win over Manuel Pellegrini’s side, Real’s euphoric fans gleefully recalled that late show in Lisbon, chanting: “Atletico, tell me how it felt to lose the final”.

Gareth Bale, who forced the Fernando own goal that decided Wednesday’s semi-final tie and who put Madrid 2-1 up against Atletico in Lisbon, offered a more cautious message.

“It’s great to be in the final again but there’s another game to go against a very difficult and stubborn Atletico Madrid team,” the Welshman said.

“We know it’s going to be another difficult game, it always is against them.”

Since breaking Atletico hearts in Lisbon, Real have faced their local rivals 10 times and won just once, Javier Hernandez’s late goal knocking Diego Simeone’s side out of the Champions League in last season’s quarter-finals.

Before Simeone took over at Atletico in 2011, Madrid derbies were regarded as foregone conclusions, with the Rojiblancos last beating Real in 1999.

Real fans revelled in their neighbours’ suffering, producing a banner before one game bearing the message “Wanted: a dignified rival for a decent derby. Apply here”.

Guided by the inspirational Simeone, Atletico broke the stranglehold in the most fitting of places, the 2013 King’s Cup final at the Bernabeu.

Real have not beaten Atletico in the league since 2013 and were thrashed 4-0 last season at the Vicente Calderon, and lost 1-0 to them at home this term.

“It’s a final, there are no favourites,” Cristiano Ronaldo said. “We meet again. A final with Atletico is always special.”

Midfielder Luka Modric also expects another tough encounter.

“We played against them two years ago and we remember how difficult it was,” the Croatian said.

“We expect the same game and I hope we get the same result.”

Meanwhile, Ronaldo lauded the impact made by Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane as the Frenchman led the Spanish giants into the Champions League final with their 1-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday.

Brazilian midfielder Fernando’s first-half own goal was the only difference between the sides over two legs as Real set up a repeat of the 2014 final against local rivals Atletico Madrid in Milan on May 28.

Zidane replaced the sacked Rafael Benitez with Madrid in crisis in January, but has sparked just Real’s second run to the final in the 14 years since he scored the winning goal against Bayer Leverkusen for Real in 2002.

“Zidane is doing a great job,” said Ronaldo. I admire him as a coach and a person, I hope he continues in the job.

“We’ve always been behind Zidane because he is a humble person who likes to listen, and that always makes things easier.”

Ronaldo made his return after a three-game absence due to a thigh injury, but was unable to match his own record of 17 Champions League goals in a single season in a tight game short on clear-cut chances.

“It was a complete game, the team played really well and we could have finished them off with a second goal — 1-0 is a tight scoreline but it’s enough,” added Ronaldo.

Zidane admitted he could bask in some of the glory for Real’s resurgence of 19 wins in his 24 games in charge, but reserved his praise for the players.

“I am the coach, so I am doing something right for sure, but it is not just me,” said the Frenchman.

“It is a question of all the people working with me and the most important people are the players. It is them that allow you to win in football.”

By contrast, City coach Manuel Pellegrini will give way to Pep Guardiola at the end of the season having failed to get them to a final in his three seasons in charge.

The Chilean lamented his side’s luck as Gareth Bale’s intended cross deflected off Fernando and looped over the helpless Joe Hart for the only goal of the tie.

However, Pellegrini admitted City hadn’t created nearly enough to merit a place in the final.

“Neither of the two teams deserved to win the game,” said Pellegrini. — Reuters.

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