Atletico Madrid stand on the brink of an unlikely double
as they prepare to take on city rivals Real in the UEFA Champions League final.
Few would have predicted Atleti's first Liga title since
1996 at the beginning of the season, but Diego Simeone's men made sure of the
trophy with a 1-1 draw against eventual runners-up Barcelona at Camp Nou on
Saturday.
And the Vicente Calderon outfit have backed that up with
equally impressive displays in Europe's elite club competition, beating Chelsea
in the semi-finals to reach the Lisbon showpiece, while Real overcame defending
champions Bayern Munich.
However, talk in the build-up to this weekend's
mouthwatering Madrid derby has been dominated by the fitness and availability
of both clubs' star names.
Diego Costa was left in tears after suffering a hamstring
strain in the draw at Barca, and has reportedly travelled to Serbia for
specialist treatment on the injury - a desperate bid to be in contention for
the biggest match of his career.
As the joint-third top goalscorer in the competition,
Costa's absence would come as a huge blow to Atleti, especially as the
tournament's leading marksman Cristiano Ronaldo has been cleared to play for
their opponents.
The Portuguese has been the star of Real's run to the
Estadio da Luz showdown, scoring 16 goals in Europe this season, but missed his
side's last two games because of a muscle injury sustained in a 1-1 draw at
Real Valladolid earlier this month.
Despite the Costa setback, Simeone is confident his
players are prepared for the challenge that lies ahead.
"From the strikers right through to the goalkeeper,
the team is aware of how we need to play in order to succeed, in order to
highlight our strengths and hide our weaknesses - because we do have
weaknesses, we just hope not to show them," he is quoted as saying by
UEFA.com.
"It's a historic rivalry. It's great, both in terms
of the matches themselves and the fact that in one city you have such a
powerful team as Real Madrid and a battling team such as Atletico Madrid.
"Each team uses the tools it has at its disposal and
it's a great rivalry, no matter which team you support."
Real are going in search of a 10th title in top-level
European competition - referred to in Spain as La Decima - and Ronaldo knows
the pressure is on.
"It is a moment that all Madridistas are dreaming about
- the decima," he said. "We are all very excited, so we have to win.
"It will be a special game. I will be playing in my
home country."
This will be the first meeting between two teams from the
same city in the history of European Cup and Champions League finals, and the
duo from the Spanish capital have only met on one previous occasion in
continental competition.
Atleti edged the league encounters between the sides this
season - winning 1-0 at the Bernabeu before a 2-2 draw on home soil - but Real
claimed a 5-0 aggregate win when they met over two legs in the Copa del Rey
semi-finals.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti will be forced to make do
without the suspended Xabi Alonso, while Karim Benzema (hamstring) and Pepe
(calf) are doubtful.
As well as Costa, Atleti - unbeaten in the tournament so
far - have question marks over the fitness of Arda Turan (knee).
Culled from Soccerway
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