Real plot Atletico revenge

Just when their worst streak in the season seems gone, Real Madrid  face their nemesis in what is, arguably, their most important game so far with a Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.

Incidentally, the two Madrid rivals were the finalists  last season and they meet for the seventh time this season in tonight's  quarter-final, first leg with revenge in mind for both.

 Real took the spoils in Lisbon last May as Sergio Ramos's stoppage time header denied Atletico their first ever European Cup and sent the game into extra time when Los Blancos romped to a 4-1 win.

 However, the tables have been turned this season as Atletico have won four and drawn two of the six meetings so far this season.

 That run has included two aggregate victories over two legs in the Spanish Supercup and the Copa del Rey. 

Yet, it was their last encounter in La Liga in February that was the most embarrassing for Real as Atletico romped to their biggest victory in a Madrid derby for 28 years in a 4-0 rout. 

With the painful  memory of that defeat in their last visit to the Vicente Calderón, the Los Blancos will need to play with pride and, more importantly, far better than they have done so far against Atlético in order to move on to the semi-finals.

 Carlo Ancelotti said yesterday that he had already made up his mind about the lineup and tactics for the first leg, and the players know what their duty will be. — Managing Madrid