24 May 2014

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid


Champions League final: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid preview
Atletico Madrid will give Diego Costa and Arda Turan every chance to be fit for Saturday's Champions League final against city rivals Real Madrid.
Costa has been treated in Belgrade using horse placenta after tearing a hamstring during last weekend's 1-1 draw with Barcelona.
Turan injured a hip against Barca.
"They trained better yesterday but we will see how they both train here and how they feel. We will decide on what we see," said coach Diego Simeone.
Costa has scored 36 goals this season but Simeone is confident his title-winning squad has enough ability to cope if either man fails to make it.
"They are just names. Both are important players with the team but there are other players who know they will be playing if Diego or Arda don't so we are working in preparation for whatever happens."
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti expects Cristiano Ronaldo to be fit.
Ronaldo has been troubled by a hamstring injury ahead of the showpiece in his home country and missed Real's last two La Liga games, withdrawing from the game against Espanyol shortly before kick-off.
"Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't have a problem - we need him. . He has trained well and now we will just have to wait and see," said Ancelotti.
Pepe and Karim Benzema have also been doubts in the build-up and Ancelotti added: "We will have to see how Pepe and Karim are doing because they haven't trained this week.
"Today's training session will be crucial for Pepe. "
After winning La Liga for the first time since 1996, Atletico are attempting to win their first European Cup.
They reached the final in 1974 but were beaten 4-0 by Bayern Munich in a replay, after the first match finished 1-1.
Real, meanwhile, could win the trophy for a record 10th time but it will be their first success since 2002, when Zinedine Zidane scored a spectacular goal to secure a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
A victory for Real would mean a third Champions League title as a coach for Ancelotti, who also won the competition twice as a player.
"There's no pressure on me, just the joy of living this moment of happiness,'' said Ancelotti.
"A lot of teams have to watch this game in front of the TV and we're lucky to be able to play it. I've watched this game on TV a lot of times and I didn't enjoy it."
Saturday's match between Real and Atletico is the first European Cup final with two teams from the same city. It will also be the fifth meeting between the two sides this season.
Real emerged as 5-0 victors over two legs in the Spanish Cup, with Atletico claiming a win and a draw in the league meetings.
Naijaswap © 2014

No comments:

Post a Comment