There will be an all-Madrid Champions League final after Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid both won through their semi-final ties this week! Real Madrid surprised defending champions Bayern Munich with a 0-4 victory at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday evening, and Atlético won 1-3 at Chelsea the following day after drawing their first leg 0-0. (30.04.14)
Atlético will be joining city rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final after they beat Chelsea 1-3 on Wednesday evening! The Premier League side had the edge after the 0-0 draw in the Calderón stadium a week ago, but Simeone’s team showed they meant business when Koke lobbed a cross-come-shot over Schwarzer on to the crossbar early on. With ten minutes to go to the break Fernando Torres put the locals ahead after picking up a pass from Azpilicueta and firing in a shot which took a deflection off Miranda, the Spanish international striker refusing to celebrate out of respect for his old side. However with half time approaching Adrián (a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up) levelled it with an important away goal, bouncing a shot past Schwarzer after Juanfran laid a long ball from Tiago back across goal. Courtois had to be at his best to keep out a Terry header early on in the second half, but with an hour on the clock Diego Costa was tripped in the area by substitute Eto’o, and Costa stepped up himself to fire home the spot kick. David Luiz headed Willian’s free kick against the bar soon afterwards, but a few minutes later Arda Turan wrapped things up with a third goal, coolly steering the ball in to the net after his header from Juanfran’s cross came back to him off the crossbar. Atleti were through to their first final in 40 years, and for the first time in the history of the competition two teams from the same city will be facing each other for the title. (30.04.14)
A fantastic and unexpected night of football in the Allianz Arena, Real Madrid hammering reigning champions Bayern Munich 0-4 to make it through to the final for the first time in twelve years! In their previous visits to Munich, Madrid had lost five and only drawn one, but within twenty minute Sergio Ramos scored two headed goals to add to their first leg lead, the first from Modric’s corner and the second from Di María’s wide free kick. Before that Bale had missed a chance after Neuer came out of his area to try to clear, and Ronaldo fired a shot just wide of the mark soon afterwards. Ribéry and Robben saw their efforts go wide in Bayern’s first attacks, but with ten minutes to go to the break Bale got free on a quick counter-attack, and his pass found Ronaldo for him to score a record 15th goal in the competition this season. Guardiola’s side had no reply, and the second half was a mere formality before Ronaldo rubbed more salt in the wound with a free kick under the legs of the defensive wall. Ancelotti’s team were through to the final, and the long awaited dream of that “decima” tenth title is only just one win away. (29.04.14)