Nine in the Champions League and one in the European Super Cup. Now, in the Champions League round of 16, a new battle brews.
The European Derbi. And then there were 10. Now onto the 11th. Potentially the spiciest yet. So much so that neither Real Madrid nor Atlético Madrid wanted to face each other at this stage. Only Mbappé, eager to save himself some miles (“Better Atleti... that way we don’t have to travel!”), was in favor of the matchup now. The German options, Leverkusen and Bayern, were more appealing. Not because of the difficulty, but because of the context. The controversy surrounding Madrid’s last visit to the Metropolitano. The war of words. The sharp-edged statements on social media. But the draw doesn’t cater to preferences – only to luck. And fortune has dictated that the 11th chapter of the Euroderbi must be written. The script promises to be worthy of Hitchcock. It almost always is.
The Madrid Derbi history in Europe
From the first, in 1958-59, to the last, in 2018. The only one outside the top continental competition. The only one with a red-and-white triumph. The UEFA Super Cup. Madrid arrived fresh off their triumph in Kyiv, against Liverpool. Their 13th Champions League trophy safely installed in the cabinet. And Atleti, having dismantled Marseille in the Europa League. From start to finish, that game belonged to Simeone’s men. Diego Costa opened the scoring and then equalized after Benzema and Ramos had responded. Extra time belonged to a Saúl volley and a Koke strike to cap off the night. A feast of joy for Cholo, Madrid’s first case of indigestion in the post-Cristiano era.
Painted in white
The rest? Always painted the same color. Even though it all began in black and white. In the fourth edition of the European Cup. Madrid had already won the first three, and the fourth would come after dispatching Stade de Reims. But before that, Atleti in the semis. It was no easy tie. Di Stéfano, in fact, always recalled that encounter as one of the toughest of that era. And, of course, it was laced with controversy.
The first leg went Madrid’s way (2-1) and was fiery. Chuzo put the visitors ahead before Rial equalized - from a suspiciously offside position. So much so that the linesman raised his flag. However, the referee, Scottish official Mowatt, deemed the goal valid. The return leg was all Atleti (1-0), forcing a replay. La Romareda delivered the verdict. Neutral ground, goals from Di Stéfano, Puskás, and Collar (2-1), and another title for the champions.
And 55 years later...
There were no more Euroderbis until 2014. But what a derby it was. 55 years of waiting, uncorked all at once. The setting: Lisbon. The protagonist: Sergio Ramos. A header for the ages. Extra time had no room for Atleti. They crumbled after the late equalizer, having already begun to savor their first Champions League title following Godín’s goal. But it was not to be. La Décima belonged to Madrid. Bale, Marcelo, and Cristiano sealed it.
The start of an era of derby feasts. Four consecutive seasons of Champions League battles. The next one, in 2014-15, was decided by Chicharito Hernández. In the quarter-final second leg, after 178 minutes without a goal, the Mexican struck. Madrid stumbled against Juve in the semis, and there was no Undécima...
But there was the following season. Same final as 2014, but in 2016 and in Milan. Ramos struck again, Carrasco leveled it. Atleti came close to landing the knockout blow, but Zidane’s men held on. In the penalty shootout, Juanfran hit the post, Cristiano found the net. Just as he did, and three times over, in 2016-17. In the semifinals, he put the tie to bed with a hat-trick in the first leg. Atleti dared to dream in the return leg. Saúl and Griezmann scored in the 12th and 16th minutes, but Isco extinguished their hopes before halftime. A 2-1 final, and Madrid were through. La Duodécima, after beating Juve, took its place in the Bernabéu museum.
Now, the upcoming round of 16 first leg brings another battle. A derby turned into a Champions League classic. So far, Madrid leads 6-1 in European encounters...