Champions League final: La Liga pundits make predicitions – SkySports
Last Updated: 27/05/16 12:44pm
Ahead of the Champions League final between Madrid rivals Atletico and Real, we get predictions from our La Liga pundits.
The two Spanish sides face each other at the San Siro in Milan in a repeat of the 2014 final, where Real Madrid won 4-1 after extra time.
This time, however, the pundits believe Atletico are a better all-round side, and will have revenge in their minds after coming within moments of their first Champions League crown two years ago…
Agree or disagree with the predictions? Leave a comment below if viewing on skysports.com, or tweet us @SkyFootball.
Guillem Balague
Real Madrid have had a difficult season, but it can all be overshadowed by one game, and it is the kind of game they know how to play.
In a competition they consider theirs, the psychological angle is won by Real Madrid. But Atletico have been thinking of this game for two years, and they are a stronger team, mentally and physically, than two years ago.
They have rested more this season and have more layers as a team, plus have a better bench.
Football is a state of the mind, as Real’s former general manager Jorge Valdano says, but also a competition to reduce mistakes. Atletico are better prepared to maximise their strengths and minimise errors.
GUILLEM PREDICTS: Atletico to win
Terry Gibson
All logic seems to point in favour of Atletico. Diego Simeone seems to have had the measure of Real Madrid pretty much since he has been in charge at the Vicente Calderon, apart from when they meet in this competition!
No defeats in the last six meetings in La Liga and three consecutive wins at the Bernabeu statistically back it up.
However, it is Real who have had the better of Atletico when it comes to the Champions League.
It was only last season that Real were victorious in the quarter-final, and of course you don’t have to go much further back to remember the other time; the Champions League final in 2014.
Both teams perversely will take belief from their recent scorelines against each other in both competitions and it will be fascinating to see how it all takes shape from a psychological perspective.
Tactically I expect a cagey affair from the off, but maybe Atletico can surprise by adopting the high pressing game for a quick burst at the start of proceedings.
I believe Zinedine Zidane will adopt a pragmatic approach through fear of conceding the first goal and then having to break down the famous Atletico defence.
Balague’s Real-Atletico combined XI
Guillem Balague selects his combined Atletico Madrid-Real Madrid XI
From a coaching point of view it will be interesting to see which coach has made the most of the two-week preparation period. My money would be on the more experienced Simeone.
Strengths and weakness for both teams are varied, in my opinion. Atletico’s strength is their defence, tactical organisation and fitness, and of course it goes without saying quality players in all positions.
Their weakness in my opinion is a tendency to defend too deep for long periods of the game which finds them entrenched in their own defensive third of the pitch and unable to get out into attacking positions for sustained periods, inviting unnecessary pressure onto themselves.
Real’s strengths are the attacking quality of the front three along with the creativity of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, who are enjoying their new-found freedom playing ahead of defensive midfielder Casemiro.
The weakness for Real Madrid is the dilemma of left-back Marcelo. Attacking-wise he is a real asset but this is at the expense of any defensive work whatsoever. He is hardly ever in the left-back position and at times is guilty of not even attempting to get back with any real urgency. This puts added pressure on the defence and in particular Sergio Ramos, who plays on the left side of the centre-back pairing and hates getting dragged out into the left-back position. If I have seen this then I’m sure Simeone has.
It’s really important in this game to see how Simeone reacts to this. Will it be Saul Niguez or Koke who look to take advantage? Whoever it is has to be very clever; you cannot ignore Marcelo’s attacking strength but his defensive weakness can be exploited.
My head tells me that it will be an Atletico win but my heart suggests that Real Madrid obviously have an infatuation with this competition, and of course are more than capable of winning it again. I’m going to be logical though and go for a first-ever win for Atletico Madrid.
TERRY PREDICTS: Atletico to win
Balague’s final analysis
In terms of football philosophies and preparation, Real and Atletico are a million miles apart
Jon Driscoll
It should be tight, so get enough snacks in to last through to penalties.
Atleti enjoy Madrid derbies in La Liga these days but have been beaten in both the Champions League and Copa del Rey by their neighbours.
Perhaps Atleti will be a little hungrier, perhaps Simeone’s experience will give them a tactical edge.
But ironically, Real Madrid have rediscovered their inner steel since appointing a Galatico general, and don’t forget Cristiano Ronaldo is still the outstanding goalscorer in either squad.
Maybe it’s the novelty of Real being underdogs that has drawn me into backing the 10-times winners.
JON PREDICTS: Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid after extra time
Graham Hunter
It’s Atleti I think. Predicting a Champions League final is usually testing enough but if you throw in all the emotion and unpredictability of a derby match, then it’s all the more so.
What makes me think that Atleti win, narrowly, is that they are significantly better in all departments than when they failed this test two years ago in Lisbon.
They are fitter, more experienced, have fewer injuries, have more goals across the team and are spurred on by the need to avoid the pain of 2014 this time.
Real are good enough and sufficiently psychologically strong to prove me wrong but I’ll say that Fernando Torres, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann all score.
GRAHAM PREDICTS: Atletico 2-1 Real Madrid
Rob Palmer
When Zidane and Simeone go head-to-head on the touchline in Milan I expect it to reflect their rivalry as players.
Both were world class at what they do; Zidane dancing around midfield, Simeone treading on the toes of such Galacticos.
The Real Madrid coach has quickly imposed his personality on his team with 12 successive Liga wins. He’s proven that he’s no figurehead for the president and we know that he doesn’t like getting pushed around in finals. He’s a man with a plan that seems to work.
I still think that Simeone’s ban cost Atletico going into the finishing straight of La Liga. If he’d been at pitch level instead of powerless behind the glass of an executive box then his team wouldn’t have lost to already-relegated Levante.
He fully deserves every bit of praise for the incredible job he’s done for Atleti, but any chance of them getting over the elite European final hoodoo may depend on him keeping his cool.
May the best man win!
ROB PREDICTS: Atletico 2-1 Real Madrid, after extra time
