Real Madrid welcome capital rivals Atletico Madrid to the Bernabeu on Wednesday for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Neither side could make the breakthrough in the first leg last Tuesday, which has left matters delicately poised in the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid
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Real Madrid's bid to win back-to-back Champions League titles once again pits them against rivals Atletico and as mentioned, the tie is delicately poised following a goalless draw in the first leg last week. No team in the modern era has successfully defended the European Cup, but many believe that Los Blancos have the best chance to make history.
Real Madrid are in the quarter-finals of this competition for the fifth year running and they have won eight of their last nine two-legged affairs at this stage. They breezed through this season's group stages, winning all six of their Group B matches to finish 11 points clear of second-placed Basel.
Schalke 04 were waiting in the last-16 stage, and it almost went horribly wrong. The Spanish side won the first leg 2-0 in Germany, but were beaten 4-3 at the Bernabeu and only advanced by the skin of their teeth. That defeat by Schalke also ended their 11-match winning home streak in the Champions League.
However, they have lost just one of their last 22 Champions League games at the Bernabeu – winning 19 times in the process. The capital outfit have also won all but one of their 22 previous European ties where they drew the first leg away from home – a strong record at this stage of the competition.
It has been a solid season for Carlo Ancelotti's side, but it could yet go horribly wrong. They beat Malaga 3-1 in the league at the weekend, but still trail Barcelona by two points in the La Liga table. Elimination here would certainly put the pressure on Ancelotti to deliver the league title.
They have won four of their last five games, however, and any victory against Atletico would see them advance into the semi-finals once again. Ancelotti could also make history this season by becoming the first manager to lift the trophy on four separate occasions.
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Atletico Madrid
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Atletico are in the quarter-finals of the European Cup for the seventh time and are seeking a spot in the semi-finals of this competition for a fifth time. A goalless home draw in the first leg is not a particularly strong result, but it is also far from disastrous and Diego Simeone's side will certainly fancy their chances of advancing into the final four and indeed potentially making another final.
Atletico know what it takes to overcome Spanish opposition at this stage of the competition having beaten Barcelona in the quarter-finals last season. In total, they have won seven and lost five of their 16 European games against Spanish opposition, while they have only lost two of their last 10 Champions League games away from home, which have included some very tough trips.
The capital outfit won their first La Liga title since the 1995-96 season last term, but they have struggled to match their achievements in the league this time around. As it stands, they are nine points behind the league leaders Barcelona with just six games remaining, while they face a battle to finish in the top four.
They have not been beaten in any competition since losing 1-0 at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League, however, a run that stretches back to the end of February. They will also enter the match off the back of a 2-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna in the league at the weekend.
Atletico topped Group A ahead of Juventus in this season's Champions League, before overcoming Leverkusen. As mentioned, they lost the first leg in Germany, but advanced courtesy of a nervy penalty shootout.
Real Madrid have a strong record when they have drawn the first leg away from home in European football, but Atletico have also won five of their eight ties after a home first-leg draw, including all three when the score was 0-0. That occurred en route to last season's final, when they drew 0-0 with Chelsea in the first leg of their semi-final, before winning 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the return.
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Team News
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Real Madrid beat Malaga 3-1 in the league on Saturday, but it came at a price, with both Luka Modric and Gareth Bale picking up injuries. Modric will miss out with a knee problem, which is expected to sideline him for six weeks. Bale, meanwhile, is also out and facing three weeks on the sidelines with a calf injury.
Karim Benzema sat out the Malaga clash with a knee problem that he sustained in the first leg against Atletico, but the Frenchman is expected to return. James Rodriguez could move further forward for the hosts, with Isco and Asier Illarramendi both coming into the middle of midfield.
Ancelotti also has a problem at left-back, with Marcelo suspended after picking up a yellow card in the first leg. The Brazilian's absence could see Alvaro Arbeloa switch to the left side of the defence.
There is also a decision to be made in the middle of defence, with Raphael Varane, Pepe and Sergio Ramos all available at the same time – a rare occurrence this season. Ancelotti is expected to go with experience, however, despite Varane's impressive run in the team.
Atletico, meanwhile, have no fresh injury concerns from the weekend, but Mario Suarez is suspended after picking up a booking in the first leg. Raul Garcia made his comeback from an arm injury in the first leg and is pushing for a start, but Mario Mandzukic is expected to lead the line despite concerns over an ankle injury.
Antoine Griezmann grabbed his 19th and 20th league goals of the season against Deportivo and will also start, while Tiago should come into central midfield.
Jan Oblak, meanwhile, who was outstanding in the first leg, has only conceded three times in seven games since replacing Miguel Moya between the sticks and will once again start in goal.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Casillas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Arbeloa; Kroos, Isco, Illarramendi; Ronaldo, Benzema, James
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Siqueira; Gabi, Koke, Tiago; Turan, Mandzukic, Griezmann
Head To Head
Incredibly, this is already the eighth meeting between the two sides this season. Real Madrid triumphed in the Champions League final against Atletico last season, but have since gone seven games without a win against their rivals.
Atletico won the Spanish Super Cup over two legs, emerged from their Copa del Rey two-legged quarter-final and also beat Real Madrid twice in the league – including a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu back in September.
In total, these two sides have met on 202 occasions in both league and cup. Real Madrid have won 103 of those meetings, with Atletico recording 50 victories and the further 59 games ending in draws. It is a rivalry that dates back to the 1928-29 season, when they faced off in the Spanish league for the first time.
We say: Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid
This is seen by many as a 50/50 tie, but Real Madrid will enter as the slight favourites. They have been very good at the Bernabeu this season and, despite a poor recent record against Atletico, will fancy their chances of progressing. It would not be a surprise to see extra time and beyond, but Real Madrid should just come through 2-1 winners on the night and indeed in the tie.
Matt Law
