This is their competition, ever since it was founded as the Champions Cup seven decades ago. They feel at home in it, and what they have achieved in it since the mid-20th century has led to everyone practically associating them with it. And it’s hard to find anyone who would dispute that Real Madrid is synonymous with elite European competition, no matter what it is called at any given moment. It has been, it is now, and it will remain so for many years to come, as the Royal Club leads in almost every Champions League category. They have participated the most times, achieved the most victories, scored the most goals, played the most finals, and lifted the most trophies. And tonight, they will reach a major milestone. At their Santiago Bernabeu, a true home of the ‘Big Ears’ trophy, in the first leg of the quarterfinals, they will play their 500th match in elite European competition—against none other than their city rival, Atletico⚪️ Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid at the Bernabéu in the Champions League:• 3 games• 3 wins• 6 goals scored • 1 goal conceded (1958/59) pic.twitter.com/Ahhijobbfy— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) March 3, 2025 Once again this year, almost as if by automation, the draw has not been kind to Real Madrid, forcing them to navigate a minefield in their quest for a potential 16th European title. After mercilessly eliminating an already wounded Manchester City in the historic first-ever knockout playoff round, fate immediately paired them with their city rivals—whom they continue to burden with added complexes with every European encounter.Julian Alvarez reveals the crucial reason why he left Man City for Atletico MadridNine meetings in the Champions League, three knockout-stage ties, and two finals. Few teams share such a rich history of European battles as the Madrid clubs—only Liverpool and Chelsea, among teams from the same country, have faced each other more times in the Champions League. Yet, Atletico’s fate has always been to fall to their knees.”I’ve always placed Barcelona and Real Madrid in their rightful place because of the history they have. We are pure growth, which is very beautiful,” Diego Simeone remarked in yesterday’s press conference, showing respect for his rivals, whom he will face five times within a month. And in each of the remaining four, just like in the first (the 4-4 Copa del Rey semifinal against Barcelona), details will decide the winner. It’s a phrase often heard from coaches before big matches—some might even say that this Tuesday at the Santiago Bernabeu marks the true start of the season for Madrid’s teams. Simeone echoed this sentiment in his press conference, but in matches between these two Spanish capital clubs in the Champions League, the smallest details truly have been decisive.Vinicius opens up about Ballon d’Or snubDetails like Javier Hernandez’s decision in the second leg of the quarterfinals at the Bernabeu to take two steps back and wait for Cristiano Ronaldo’s return pass from the wing—scoring the only goal of the tie to send his team through. Or Sergio Ramos’ last-gasp header in the 2014 Lisbon final, snatching Atletico’s first-ever Champions League trophy from their grasp. Or Antoine Griezmann’s missed penalty in the 2016 Milan final, where Ramos once again lifted the trophy.”A match of this caliber is decided by the finest details. We’ve already seen that in our games against Real. Details are crucial at this stage. The team that handles these moments best will advance. I don’t understand the word ‘favorite.’ We respect our opponent. We know our strengths, we will play at our full potential, and we will try to take the match to a place where we can hurt them,” added Simeone.Madrid derby 😤#UCL pic.twitter.com/q7qLhjL0IB— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 4, 2025 However, the Argentine seems to have sensed blood this time. The confidence radiating from him in the press room, his ever-present smile, and the relaxed demeanor in his responses suggest that perhaps, this time, Simeone sees an opportunity to break the curse. If he can survive the early stages of the labyrinth that is the Bernabeu, he will know where to look for his chance. It’s not certain, but Atletico will likely try to drag their city rivals into the final minutes of the match—a phase where Los Colchoneros thrive just as Los Blancos do in the Champions League, transforming into an unstoppable force.No mercy for old friends: Isco knocks Madrid down!While it’s clear that Atletico cannot match Real Madrid in sheer player quality, the Spanish media view Atletico’s bench as one of the rare weapons in Simeone’s arsenal that could finally tip the scales in his favor. His substitutes have scored 16 goals and provided 14 assists in La Liga alone—more than the reserves of any other team in Europe’s top five leagues. Across all competitions, they have been involved in 29 of the team’s 81 total goals, accounting for over 35% of Atletico’s scoring output.If Cholo likes someone, it’s Uruguayans, but this one could be such a riskLeading the charge is Alexander Sorloth, unofficially Europe’s “Golden Super-Sub,” who has scored eight of his 13 goals this season off the bench—his latest coming against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. Simeone has created an environment where every player feels important, where sitting on the bench does not weigh on their confidence but instead fuels their motivation. Just this past weekend against Athletic Bilbao, he introduced Julian Alvarez and Marcos Llorente around the 60th minute, and within six minutes, they combined for the winning goal. Simeone relies on his entire squad—his substitutes have accumulated over 5,000 minutes of playtime, unlike Carlo Ancelotti, whose bench players have seen over 2,000 fewer minutes. As a result, Real Madrid’s substitutes have only scored 10 of the team’s 101 total goals this season. With a tactical chess match ahead, the question remains: will this finally be the moment Atletico Madrid breaks free from their city’s long shadow?UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – ROUND OF 16First legTuesday 20.45: (2.85) Club Brugge (3.25) Aston Villa (2.55)23.00: (1.80) Dortmund (3.60) Lille (4.60)23.00: (3.80) PSV (3.45) Arsenal (2.00)23.00: (1.87) Real Madrid (3.50) Atl.Madrid (4.20)Wednesday 20.45: (5.60) Feyenoord (3.70) Inter (1.65)23.00: (1.82) Bayern (3.60) Leverkusen (4.40)23.00: (3.80) Benfica (3.60) Barcelona (1.95)23.00: (2.45) PSG (3.45) Liverpool (2.80)***odds are subject to change***
