Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid Betting Tip Real Madrid – 10 May 2017

Real to lay down another marker against Madrid rivals

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) © GEPA pictures

10th May 2017 Kickoff: 1945hrs Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid– Football – Europe – Champions League It looks as though it’s going to be another Champions League heartache for Diego Simeone and his Atletico Madrid players at the hands of their archest rivals. Real Madrid took a commanding 3-0 first leg lead thanks to what seems like a customary Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick, last Tuesday, which stands them in great stead for a third Champions League final appearance in four years and the possibility of becoming the first club ever to win the competition in consecutive seasons. Only the matter of a small miracle will prevent them facing Juventus in Cardiff next month.

Having lost out to Real Madrid in each of the last three seasons in the Champions League (twice beaten in the final and once at the quarter final stage) many were predicting that this would be the revenge that Simeone and the whole Atletico club have craved. Whilst Real have been involved in a battle with Barcelona for La Liga, Atleti have been able to concentrate the majority of their efforts on this competition alone and they even appeared to have been given the fortunate position of playing the second leg at home. From the very early stages of the match in the Santiago Bernabeu it was a case of déjà vu, though. Atletico’s usually immense defence looked uncertain and fragile whilst they got absolutely nothing going in an attacking sense. The 3-0 defeat was their biggest ever European defeat under Simeone and leaves them facing an extraordinary challenge to make it to another Champions League Final.

Real are relentless at the moment and even when they suffer a bump in the road – as they did when losing to Barcelona in La Liga – their powers of recovery and mentality is such that they simply respond even stronger. The pace and intensity in which they came out last week was too much for Atletico to handle and it would have been an injustice if they did not get those two goals in the latter part of the second half to ensure they make the short journey across the city with this three goal lead. It’s remarkable to think that Zinedine Zidane was rumoured to be under pressure if he failed to deliver at least one of the Champions League or La Liga this season, particularly as they are in a great position in both and he was able to secure the former of this just over a year ago. Zidane has rotated his squad perfectly between the two competitions and that was no more evident than when his younger players blitzed Granada 4-0 away from home at the weekend, allowing his key experienced stars some rest and recovery in preparation for finishing the job in the Vicente Calderon.

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid Betting Tip

These games are ones not to be missed usually but you cannot help but feel that this tie is already over. Having advised an ante post bet on Atletico Madrid at the beginning of the competition that is tough to acknowledge but the reality is Real are almost certain to score – something they have done in all of their games in the competition this season. That would leave the home team needing to score at least five which looks extremely unlikely, to say the least. Atletico will have to approach this one simply to get the first goal as early as they possibly can and hope they unsettle their opponents. They will certainly have the backing of their supporters in what will be the final Champions League game played at this famous stadium, and the final time it hosts a Madrid derby.

As much as I would love for Atletico to turn this around I think it is already beyond them. It will be difficult for them in terms of their approach to the game as so much of their success has been when they are able to be compact and hit on the break – needing three goals at home suggests that will not be open to this time. It leaves them vulnerable against the pace that Real have on the break and they are devastating with it. I actually think it is set up perfectly for the visitors to lay down another marker by winning the second leg, and they would love nothing more than winning the final Madrid derby in the Vincente Calderon.

Real Madrid 17/10 @ Betfair