Chapter 230 The Madrid Derby in the Champions League
Dick should indeed be high-spirited - he is still quite confident about Panathinaikos - this is not because he is overconfident, but because although Greek football has made considerable progress, most of their country's top players
The players all play abroad, and the players who play domestically are not top-notch players.
It's just that the Greek team has very good physical fitness and excellent running skills. Two years later, under the command of Rehagel, they defeated all the powerful players with beautiful defensive counterattacks. Although Pana
Xinaikos does not have a head coach like Rehagel, but their ability to enter the quarterfinals in the group stage relies on more stable tactics and more stable performance than their opponents.
Facing such a stable team, what Atletico Madrid has to do is not to make any mistakes in the game and use the most stable method to win.
"Solidify the midfield, advance steadily, don't give them a chance to counterattack, use technology to fight their bodies, seize the opportunity and make the final decision, do you understand?"
This was Dick's strategy before the game started.
Although opponents like Panathinaikos do not seem exciting enough, playing in the knockout rounds of the Champions League makes all Atletico Madrid players extremely excited and serious!
In this state, the performance of Atletico Madrid players on the field has also reached an extremely high level.
Dick did not neglect this game. He rested all the main players in the last game so that they could concentrate on playing the Champions League game. Although he did not use the goal card - because in the last group match, Dick wanted to play
In one breath, he smashed four goal cards in the game. While smashing Galatasaray to pieces, he also had only seven cards left in his inventory, so he needed to save some.
In this game, Atletico Madrid's players completely controlled the midfield, and then constantly looked for opportunities, never rashly advancing, and not giving Panathinaikos any chance to counterattack. Atletico Madrid used the most traditional method
In the attack, Belleron won the game with a beautiful direct free kick in the 67th minute of the game!
"Atletico Madrid showed their strong team style in this game! There was no rush, no rush, they just controlled the situation on the court, and then kept moving forward, forward, forward. In the end, they relied on one
The opportunity won the game. They completely controlled the midfield throughout the game and did not give Panathinaikos, who was playing at home, any chance. Such a performance under such circumstances is enough to prove that Atletico Madrid is in the Champions League.
They also have a kind of temperament that is unfazed by favors and humiliations. They will not belittle themselves when facing strong teams, and they will not be arrogant when facing weak teams. Only with this kind of temperament can they achieve good results in the Champions Cup!"
In the first leg of the quarter-finals, Atletico Madrid became the only team to win among the three La Liga teams - in other games, Real Madrid swallowed the bitter pill of defeat at the Olympiastadion in Munich. They lost 1 to 2.
To Bayern, although they didn't lose much, they still had a great chance at home. However, for Real Madrid, such a defeat also put them in a very dangerous situation.
Deportivo lost to Manchester United by two goals at home. Such a score almost made them lose hope of entering the semi-finals. Atletico Madrid became the La Liga team with the best performance. Coupled with their advantage in the league,
It is enough to prove that Atletico Madrid is indeed the best team in Spain now!
After leading the team back from Greece, Dick and his disciples were warmly welcomed by Atletico Madrid fans. In their view, there was no doubt that Atletico Madrid would equal the best result in history, that is, enter the Champions League final.
Well, after beating Panathinaikos in an away game, there will be no problem in entering the semi-finals. Whether the opponent in the semi-finals is Bayern or Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid seems to have a psychological advantage - they double defeated Real Madrid in the league.
After taking office, Grammar maintained an unbeaten record against Real Madrid, and Bayern was also defeated by Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup. There will definitely be no problem in entering the final!
Fans can be so optimistic. Dick naturally cannot be so optimistic. Having won before and being able to win now are two different things. Not to mention, in the Champions League the year before last, Bayern defeated Real Madrid in the second group stage.
They both scored four goals in the two games, one was 4-1 and the other was 4-2. However, when they met again in the semi-finals, they were reversed and eliminated by Real Madrid, which ultimately led to Real Madrid's eighth Champions League.
Champion, Atletico Madrid does have an advantage when facing Real Madrid, but in the semi-finals, it is not certain that they will not be defeated by Real Madrid...
What's more, when Atletico Madrid won the European Super Cup this season, three Bayern generals were unable to play, which allowed Atletico Madrid to win the game. Now Bayern's state and morale have gradually reached their peak. They will not be able to play in the semi-finals.
If it's like the European Super Cup, it will also be a fierce battle!
Besides, Atletico Madrid hasn't reached the semifinals yet.
Although Dick is arrogant, his arrogance is shown to others. When facing a strong enemy, he will act more cautious.
After returning from Greece, Dick sent out all his substitutes in the home game against Zaragoza, allowing the main players to concentrate on preparing for the Champions League game. In the end, Atletico Madrid's substitutes fought with their opponents in this game.
After a draw, Real Madrid and Valencia gritted their teeth and won a victory each, narrowing the gap with Atletico Madrid to nine points.
Dick doesn't care about this, because there are only five rounds left in the league, and all they want is two wins. Now everything is focused on the Champions League!
On April 10th, Atletico Madrid welcomed Panathinaikos at home!
After a week's rest, Atletico Madrid's main players came on the court vigorously. They continued to adopt the tactic of stabilizing the midfield and waiting for opportunities to attack. Faced with such tactics, Panathinaikos, who lacked top players, did not fare well.
In this way, they can only passively struggle with Atletico Madrid in the midfield.
In such a confrontation, the competition is who can create and seize opportunities better. This is obviously more beneficial to Atletico Madrid. Although Panathinaikos seized the opportunity and once equalized the total score, but then, Jardel,
Goals from Belleron and Camoranesi allowed Atletico Madrid to defeat Panathinaikos 3-1 at home, beating their opponents with a total score of 4-1 in two rounds and advancing to the semi-finals!
There are still two games left before their best result in Champions League history!
Although when they saw the opponents in the group, Atletico Madrid fans almost guessed that entering the semi-finals would not be a problem, but when they really saw the team entering the semi-finals, they created the best record since the 1973-1974 season.
When the Champions Cup results came out, they were all extremely excited!
What makes them even more excited is that in another game, Real Madrid defeated Bayern 2-0 at home after a tough battle and entered the semi-finals. They will be Atletico Madrid's opponent in the Champions League semi-finals.
opponent!
To be honest, Atletico Madrid fans still feel a little scared when playing against Bayern. Bayern's performance in the Champions League in recent years is not worse than Real Madrid at all, but their luck is a little worse than Real Madrid. In addition, Atletico Madrid has only played against Bayern once.
I am not very familiar with it. If I really want to face Bayern, Atletico Madrid may not be able to win. However, against Real Madrid - facing an opponent they have just beaten twice in the league, Atletico Madrid fans feel that entering the final is really nothing.
It's troublesome...
Compared with their excitement, the entire UEFA is celebrating - Atletico Madrid meets Real Madrid. This is the semi-final they most want to see. The reason is very simple, because this encounter marks the 50th anniversary of the Champions League.
On, the first Madrid derby!
Before the Champions League was revised, there would be almost no city derbies in the Champions League, because only the league champions and Champions League champions could participate in the Champions League! But after the expansion, this situation will happen many times, such as the Milan derby.
, the derby of the century... But before this time, there has not been even one derby of sufficient importance in the Champions League! The Madrid derby will be the first time in the history of the Champions League!
Such a good gimmick! It’s not in vain. They allowed Atletico Madrid to take advantage. In the knockout round, they met Panathinaikos, the weakest among the quarter-finals. Now Atletico Madrid has successfully advanced, and Real Madrid has also made a difficult comeback against Bayern Munich.
In the semi-finals, two teams from Madrid City will fight to the death in order to enter the Champions League final!
Real Madrid is aiming for its ninth Champions League, while Atletico Madrid is trying to equal history and then strive to surpass history!
Compared with the Madrid derby in this half, the match between Manchester United and Leverkusen in the other half seems to be less eye-catching. Although Leverkusen is also a dark horse in the Champions League this season, there seems to be no Atletico Madrid.
At first glance, even if the group they are in is more valuable and the competition is more difficult, Dick is a person who is born to have all eyes on him!
More importantly, the Madrid derby was really too big a gimmick, especially since it was the first significant derby in the history of the Champions League. Such a matchup immediately made the Champions League semi-finals, which had already attracted a lot of attention, receive even more attention.
Big attention!
"Real Madrid is a great team. I have never denied this. They deserve the title of the best club of the 20th century. But Atletico Madrid is also very good now. The problem of inexperience in the Champions League that once troubled us
It has improved a lot now. These two semi-finals may be the two most important games of the season, but I still hope that Atletico Madrid can enter the final and even win the Champions League."
After the match situation came out, Dick showed strong confidence in the interview. Relatively speaking, Bosque seemed to be more low-key: "Atletico Madrid's recent performance is very good, and the advantage in the league has proven this.
, however, no team can maintain its top form all the time, and their advantage in the league has begun to shrink. Now is a good opportunity. We will strive to defeat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League to gain a certain advantage. The start of this season
We encountered a lot of trouble at that time, which caused us to lag far behind in the league. However, the Champions League is an opportunity to make up for it, because there is no point gap, both sides are equal. We will strive to win and let
The fans feel comforted that the Madrid derby is always sacred, and it is also the first time for us to participate in the Madrid derby in the Champions League. We are very happy to start two competitions with Atletico Madrid on such a fair starting point.
Things you see.”
"The two semi-finals between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid attracted a lot of people's attention! Of course there are still two league games to be played before that, which is a bit disadvantageous to Real Madrid, unless they can give up the league to focus on the Champions League, which will allow them to
Faced with Atletico Madrid in better condition, this is a difficult choice for Bosque."
