2014 UEFA Champions League Final- Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid clash in an unusual Champions League Final this Saturday at 14:45 PM ET at Lisbon, in what is the first European final between two teams from the same city.
Real Madrid looks for the 10th European Championship in their first final since 2002; they are almost obsessed with this tournament.
Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo will start the game despite he suffered a few injuries over the last weeks.
“These things can happen. We train every day and play ever weekend and midweek, so it is normal that sometimes the body reacts negatively. I have had some bad luck and small problems towards the end of the season, but it is normal,” said the World Player of the Year.
“Bale didn’t train because he did specific work in the gym. We preferred that he did that work in the gym and he didn’t need to go out onto the field,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “The two of them are going to play. That is what is important for us.”
Atletico is the underdog, they know it but they have 14 players with European finals experience, while Madrid only five. The ‘colchoneros’ won the Spanish La Liga last weekend, upsetting Barcelona.
“This shows that there is more than one way to win,” coach Diego Simeone said. The Atlético Madrid manager also insisted that, despite having seen two players forced off through injury and going a goal down to Barcelona for the first time in six meetings between the teams this season, he did not doubt that his side could secure a result that would seal the title.
Atletico Madrid is +300 to win the final, and Real Madrid is -110.
Zack is a tour guide whose favorite sports are football, baseball, and golf. He enjoys giving obnoxious commentary during games and hopes to some day write a book about sports. His favorite underdog victory was the Diamondbacks beating the Yankees in game 7 of the World Series.
