Atletico Madrid have a chance in Saturday's Champions League final not
only to claim their debut European crown but to deny their loathed and
vastly wealthier neighbours Real Madrid a record-extending 10th.
Atletico
have already outperformed this season in securing a remarkable La Liga
triumph, shattering the domestic dominance of Real and Barcelona and
becoming the first team other than the big two to win the Spanish title
since Valencia in 2004.
They are also back competing with the
continent's elite after a lengthy absence and the first showpiece
between teams from the same city in the 59-year history of the European
Cup is their second final after they lost out to Bayern Munich in 1974.
Real,
the world's richest club by income who have splashed more than 600
million euros (£486m) on players over the past five years, are appearing
in their 13th final, but the first since their last success in 2002.
Their vast outlay is proof of Real president Florentino Perez's
obsession with winning what is known in Spain as "la decima" (the 10th).
"From
the first day a player arrives at the club, he is already saying that
he has come to win the 'decima'," former Real forward Predrag Mijatovic
said in an interview with Marca sports daily published on Wednesday.
"There
is too much pressure being put on the players," added the Montenegrin,
who scored the winner in Real's 1-0 Champions League final triumph
against Juventus in 1998. "The best way to take the sting out of this
obsession is winning and then we won't be talking about the 10th
anymore."
Atletico, known as "the mattress makers" after their red
and white-striped shirts, and Real, who play in all-white and are
nicknamed "the meringues", have met only once before in continental
competition, in the European Cup semi-finals in 1958-59. Real went
through to what was their fourth consecutive final after winning a
replay in Zaragoza when Ferenc Puskas scored the winner in a 2-1
success.
The city neighbours have met four times this season. In La
Liga, Atletico won 1-0 at Real's Bernabeu stadium and they drew 2-2 at
the Calderon in the return, while in the two-legged Copa del Rey
semi-finals Atletico were on the end of a 5-0 aggregate drubbing.
Those
encounters are unlikely to have much impact on the Champions League
final, with Atletico, unbeaten in Europe this term and on a high after
wrapping up the La Liga title on Saturday and Real under enormous
pressure to avoid what would be a humiliating reverse.
Cristiano
Ronaldo, top scorer in this season's competition with a record 16 goals,
believes the expectation weighing on him and his team mates can be used
to their advantage.
"Since the first day we came here, we've felt
that positive pressure to win the Champions League," the FIFA Ballon
d'Or winner told the UEFA website. "Real Madrid have wanted it for a
long time," added the Portugal captain, a European champion with
Manchester United in 2008. "It is a moment that the whole Madrid family
are dreaming about - the 'decima'."
Atletico have held one
celebration at the Neptune fountain in central Madrid this season,
partying with their delirious fans after winning La Liga for the first
time in 18 years, and will be hoping to return with the European Cup.
Should they fall short, Real and their fans will flock to the nearby
Cibeles fountain having finally claimed the elusive 'decima' after more
than a decade of disappointment.
Sign up here with your email
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon