The UEFA Champions League wraps up on Saturday with the final between Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid from Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz.
Sportsnet’s panel of soccer writers and broadcasters preview the match and offer their predictions.
Saturday programming alert: Watch Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final from Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz live on all four main Sportsnet channels. Our coverage begins with the pre-game show starting at 2 pm ET before kickoff at 2:45 pm ET. | Sportsnet World Online | TV schedule
James Sharman, Soccer Central
What I enjoy most about sport is its unpredictability. The term “destiny team” has been tossed around liberally this week following Atletico’s brilliant La Liga title win. Of course, we all know the concept of destiny is utter nonsense, right? This is soccer, where 22 men chase a ball around a field and at this level every one of them is supremely gifted. Therefore, on most occasions the more talented side will prevail, but on occasion good ‘ol heart and soul can count for a famous win for a team perhaps slightly less skilled with the ball, despite what the analytics crowd will argue.
That being said, this is the Champions League final; it is the stage where the greats are deified, and already this season we have seen one of the greatest reach God-like status. Cristiano Ronaldo was born for occasssions such as Saturday, and so far this season his Real Madrid side have drawn one and lost one to Atletico in La Liga, while smashing them in the Copa del Rey. This will be a smashing game.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins 3-0.
Gerry Dobson, Soccer Central
Horse placenta for treatment of a thigh injury? In Belgrade? Desperate times call for desperate measures and that’s what we’ll call this. Atletico Madrid needs striker Diego Costa and his 36 goals so badly they’ll go to any lengths to try and get him fit for Saturday’s final. Who knows if it will work. He’s listed as doubtful right now. You might say without him, they have no chance against mighty Real Madrid. And yet, this confounding underdog side has found ways to win more than once without Costa. In fact he left the season finale against Barcelona early in the first half, but that didn’t stop Atletico from clinching the title in enemy territory.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s quest for La Decima, their 10th Champions League title, has become an obsession. Obsessions aren’t healthy. Sometimes they end badly. They will be relatively healthy, however. No horse placenta required, thank you very much. After missing the last two matches, Cristiano Ronaldo has been declared fit. Likewise for Gareth Bale. Only 62 goals between them this season. So how to handicap this one? Well we know Real Madrid likes to have the ball, and Atletico will probably happily oblige. I’m thinking 75 percent possession. But on the counter, Atletico will get just as many scoring chances.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid wins 2-1.
John Molinaro, Sportsnet.ca
Maybe it’s my Italian heritage getting the better of me, but I honestly believe a solid defence, more than anything else, wins titles. Atletico conceded just 26 goals in La Liga, the likes of Diego Godin, Miranda, Felipe and Juanfran anchoring a defence that was one of the tightest in European club soccer. Atletico also scored 77 goals and they’re lethal on the counter, so you can’t discount their offensive prowess. But if not for that back line, they would not have won the Spanish championship this season.
And that’s why I’m taking them to win Saturday’s final. Sharman is right—this isn’t about destiny or fate. It’s about a quality team that finds a way to win, regardless of the odds stacked against them. That’s Atletico. How many times this season did pundits predict their bubble would burst? At every turn, Diego Simeone’s men proved them wrong. No Diego Costa for Saturday? No problem. Atletico lost Costa and Arda Turan in the first half of last weekend’s title decider at the Camp Nou, but Los Colchoneros didn’t wilt—they upped their game and earned a historic draw against Barcelona to claim their first league title since 1996. It was a performance for the ages, one that they’ll top on Saturday.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid wins 1-0.
More Champions League coverage: Watch: Ronaldo embraces pressure at home | Photo gallery: Road to the final | Photo gallery: 10 players to watch in the final | Names in the news: Sergio Ramos | Names in the news: Diego Godin | Atletico Madrid captures the hearts of neutrals | Real Madrid’s obsession with la Decima | Sharman: Ronaldo is simply the best
James Doyle, Sportsnet magazine
As much as I want the fairy tale to continue, I don’t think it will. It would be great to think that Atletico Madrid, having beaten Barcelona to clinch their first La Liga title in close to two decades, will go on to best their cross-town rivals to claim club football’s greatest prize. But it doesn’t feel likely. Real Madrid is a team built for these occasions, they have the experience and consistent quality that the Champions League final demands.
What’s more, they’ve got Atletico’s number. Though the two drew in their last league meeting, Real hammered Deigo Simeone’s team 5-0 on aggregate in the Copa del Rey. Those results should worry Atletico. What should also worry them is the status of talismanic striker Diego Costa. He’s been huge for Los Colchoneros all season—scoring 35 percent of their La Liga goals—but it’s taken a toll. He pulled up and pulled out of the match against Barcelona, giving his team the biggest injury worry they could have heading into the club’s biggest-ever match. Even if he does start, he’s been walking wounded for much of the season and is unlikely to be at full fitness. Without Costa at his best, Atletico don’t measure up to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, a man who seems custom-made for games like this. In the end, while I really want the fairy tale ending to a remarkable season from Atletico, I wouldn’t put my money on it.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins 2-1.
Thomas Michalakos, Sportsnet.ca
The fifth instalment of El Derbi madrileno of this season will present the winner with European football’s ultimate and most prestigious prize. The newly crowned La Liga champions are 90 minutes away from claiming an astonishing double trophy haul. Win or lose, Atleti have enjoyed an historic season, and Diego Simeone deserves a tremendous amount of credit for what he’s achieved with the resources available. The status of Diego Costa still remains a major doubt, having suffered a severe hamstring tear during the early stages of Atleti’s 1-1 draw against Barcelona last weekend. Latest reports have the Brazilian-born Spanish international going through horse placenta treatment in a desperate effort to be fit for the final.
Real Madrid’s obsession towards an unprecedented tenth European title has reached unimaginable levels, having last appeared in the Champions League final a dozen years ago—beating Bayer Leversusen 2-1 at Glasgow’s Hampden Park. Should they fail in their efforts to hoist the elusive and much talked about La Decima the disappointment and agony would further be heightened by the fact that their neighbours prevented the dream sequence from materializing. Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will be fit for duty, though, the status of Pepe and Karim Benzema remains uncertain. Real beat Atleti 5-0 on aggregate in their Copa del Rey semifinal encounter, though, Atleti earned a famous 1-0 victory in the league at the Bernabeu before playing out a 1-1 draw in the reverse domestic fixture.
Prediction: 1-1 draw, Atletico Madrid wins in penalty shootout.
Dan Riccio, Sportsnet 590 The FAN
La Decima. A shot at a 10th European Cup has eluded Real Madrid for 12 years. The emotion and the pressure on the Galacticos is immense heading into this one against their city rivals. Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, have nothing to lose, having already won La Liga—an appearance in the Champions League final is something no one could have expected from them.
The obsession, the pressure, the expectation of winning La Decima will no doubt factor into the mentality of Real Madrid players, but I find it hard to see them losing. Then again, I have doubted Atletico Madrid’s ability throughout the campaign, only to see them prove me wrong. The odds are stacked against them as usual, and they could be in trouble if Diego Costa is ruled out due to injury.
Real Madrid’s form down the stretch of the La Liga season shows how much this one result means to the club and its fans. Everything has been leading up to this, and coach Carlo Ancelotti has the experience of guiding Champions League winners. This is their game, and its now up to them to finish the job. It certainly won’t be easy against an Atleti side that has nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
Prediction: Real Madrid wins 2-1.
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