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Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez says the team is disappointed not to have taken a lead against Atletico in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final.

The 10-time winners of the competition have now failed to beat Los Colchoneros in seven attempts this season. Their last win over their city rivals was infact the final of the Champions League in May last year.

On Tuesday, Real dominated for much of the game but were denied on numerous occasions but Jan Oblak, the Atletico goalkeeper, who was in inspired form. Wales forward Gareth Bale also missed a glorious chance early on – something Madridistas will be hoping the team won’t regret by the time they’ve played the second leg.

Talking to reporters after the game, James, who missed two months of the season with a broken toe said the team will be sharper in front of their home fans at the Santiago Bernabeu.

He stated: “The whole team did well. We had chances and we played with intensity, but we didn’t manage to score. They didn’t create clear chances. In the second leg we’ll be sharper. We have to be on our guard and at the Bernabéu we have to play with intensity to beat them. We’re confident of winning the second leg.”

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Sergio Ramos says Real Madrid have a bittersweet feeling after drawing with Atletico de Madrid.

The city rivals drew 0-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final at the Vicente Calderon, although the holders of the trophy had the better opportunities on the night and could have taken a lead back to the Santiago Bernabeu next week.

As it is, it’s all to play for as Real seek to become the first team to win the Champions League back-to-back.

Speaking to journalists after the game, the vice captain on the club said: “We come away with a bittersweet taste in the mouth, because we didn’t get a goal to take a lead into the return. Madrid had control for practically the whole match, though the second half was trickier.

“We have to draw positive conclusions. It was a really taxing, intense match against opponents who always make things very difficult, and at a ground that’s always tough to go to.”

Speaking about the next game against their rivals, Ramos added: “In the end we’ve come away with a 0-0 draw and with the advantage of playing the second leg at the Bernabéu in front of our home fans. We urge the fans to go and support us and experience a unique atmosphere to try to get through to the next round. It’s an added source of motivation playing at home. We’re going to end the season well and try to win trophies.”

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Sergio Ramos will stay at Real Madrid beyond his current contract, according to his brother and agent.

The 29-year-old centre-back still has two years remaining on his current deal at the Santiago Bernabeu and talks have already begun about extending that further. But reports had suggested other top European clubs might look to take advantage of the contract running down and tempt his into a move abroad.

Chelsea and Bayern Munich have been mentioned as possible destinations for the World Cup winner, but his brother Rene Ramos dismissed any suggestion the defender would leave.

In quotes published by Spanish sports paper, Marca, Rene said: “Sergio is very happy at Real Madrid. He’s too happy at Madrid! As long as Sergio has a contract at Madrid he will wear the club’s shirt.”

The vice-captain of the team has been with the European giants for 10 years, having signed for the club from Sevilla in August 2005. He has played under a number of managers and helped the team to success in La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa and European Super Cup.

But his most telling contribution has perhaps been in the Champions League. Ramos scored twice against Bayern Munich in the semi-final, and then netted the last minute equaliser in the final against Atletico last season as Real ended their 12-year wait to lift La Decima.

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Daniel Carvajal has said the Real Madrid fans will be the team’s twelfth man when it comes to the playing the second leg of their Champions League tie next week.

Los Blancos played out a goalless draw with Atletico de Madrid on Tuesday night at the Vicente Calderon. The holders had the better of the first half, and Gareth Bale was guilty of a glaring miss early on. Diego Simeone’s team grew into the game and had the better of the second half with a draw probably a fair result.

Now, Los Blancos need to finish the job off at the Santiago Bernabeu next week if they are to take the next step in their aim to become the first team to retain the Champions League.

After the match, Carvajal took some time out to speak to reporters. And called on Madridistas to get behind their team in the return leg.

“We were on top during the first half and tried to do the same again in the second but weren’t able to replicate the same football. The state of the pitch prevented us from playing with a little more fluidity. We take the 0-0 result to the Bernabéu to decide matters there. I don’t think we are the favourites, Atlético are a very tough opponent/

“We will try to win at home and the fans will be our twelfth man. I’m certain that with them behind us we will secure our passage to the semi-finals. We need them to support us, as they will be fundamental. We are going to give it our all. It will be a great game and Real Madrid will be solid,” he commented.

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Iker Casillas says the tie between Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid is wide open but he’s hoping home advantage counts.

Los Blancos drew 0-0 with their city rivals in the first leg of their Champions League tie at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday evening.

It was a tale of two halves, as the visitors dominated in the first half but came up against a man mountain in Atletico goalkeeper Oblak, who made six stunning saves in the opening 45 minutes. The second half was different though, as Diego Simeone’s men controlled the tempo of the game and had chances themselves.

Speaking to reporters after game, Casillas said: The first half bore no relation to the second. Real Madrid deserved much more from the first half, but we were up against a fantastic Oblak. After the break Atlético calmed things down, prevented us from attacking on goal and controlled that aspect of play.

“The tie is wide open. A 0-0 result ensures for a great second leg and I think both teams still have a chance of going through. We’re hoping the fact that we’re at home will mean we put in a good performance, feed off the fans’ energy and get through the tie, which we knew from the beginning wouldn’t be easy.”

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has said 0-0 wasn’t the perfect result for his team after the first leg of their Champions League quarter final tie with Atletico de Madrid, but the team will be confident about the second leg.

Los Blancos enjoyed the better chances in the first half at the Vicente Calderon with home keeper Oblak making six saves. Gareth Bale missed a glorious opportunity early on to give the holder the lead.

But the second half was a different story as the hosts got back into the game and exerted pressure on the 10-time winners.

Speaking afterwards, Ancelotti said Real will be confident of finishing off the job in front of their home fans next Wednesday.

“In the first half we deserved more than 0-0. It was fantastic; we played very well, with a lot of personality. The second half was different, Atlético pressured more, we found it more difficult to control possession and the match was more even,” he told reporters.

He added: “It isn’t such a good result, but we have confidence because of the match we’ve played, because of what the team showed in the first half, and we have confidence for the second leg. It’s small details; we had chances because everyone did a great job in attack, with good movement, but we didn’t finish well. We have to repeat the same performance next Wednesday.”

 

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Atletico Madrid managed to upset Real Madrid one more time –and it’s seven in a row now– despite Los Blancos played a brilliant game, especially in the first half. The second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu will decide the fate of these city rivals in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Carlo Ancelotti men dominated from the start. They played with more intensity and had the best chances, but Jan Oblak put in a superb performance and prevented the visitors from taking the victory home.

Ancelotti men had their best opportunity to score as Diego Godin failed in his attempt to clear the ball, leaving Gareth Bale alone inside the box. However, Oblak made a super save showing incredible reflexes.

Bale and James Rodriguez tested the keeper with long-range shots, but Oblak brilliantly denied both efforts. Luka Modric was also close to scoring with a shot from the edge of the box, but he sent it over the crossbar.

Both teams had made a big effort in the first half and seemed more tired after the break. Real Madrid were more threatening thanks to Marcelo, who played a brilliant match, constantly causing trouble for Atletico’s defence.

In one of those plays, the Brazilian assisted Karim Benzema after dribbling past three defenders. However, the Frenchman decided to pass the ball to Ronaldo instead of shooting on target and Atletico’s defence managed to clear the ball.

As the match came to an end, it became clear that both teams were too afraid of conceding a goal. They focussed on defending and finished the game satisfied with the score.

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Real Madrid left back Marcelo has urged his team mates to play with courage and intensity in the Champions League tie against Atletico de Madrid.

The cross city rivals meet for the first time in the competition since Real won 4-1 in the final last season, ending their 12-year wait for La Decima. Since then though, Atletico have had the upper hand on Carlo Ancelotti’s men, beating them twice in La Liga and seeing them off in both the Spanish Supercopa and Copa del Rey.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the quarter final tie at the Vicente Calderon, Marcelo said Real are confident going into the game despite not winning in six games this season against Diego Simeone’s side.

“Yes, we are in better form now, we recovered some players and I think this is a good moment for us. We are playing with more confidence now after the last few wins,” he stated.

Asked for his thoughts about what had changed since winning La Decima, the Brazilian commented: “We changed our squad a lot after that match. We’ve played them multiple times since that win, these two games will be very difficult but we’ll try to win. There are no favorites for these Derbies, we will give our best without thinking about the previous games.”

He added: “We have to play with intensity and fight because these matches are always very difficult. They are a great team, but we are not thinking about our previous games against them, we have a good opportunity now to beat them. We know what we must do tomorrow and in the return leg as well.”

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Atletico Madrid Real Madrid match preview

Real Madrid will look to get revenge against Atletico Madrid as the two city rivals meet in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Los Blancos have not won any of the last six games against Atletico, and the last one, in La Liga, was especially painful, since Los Colchoneros trashed them with a 4-0 victory.

This time, Carlo Ancelotti will try to make sure his men will play with the same intensity as Atletico, which they lacked in their last clashes against Diego Simeone’s side.

The Italian has all his men available since Pepe has fully recovered from his muscle injury and Gareth Bale is perfectly fit after missing last weekend’s game due to muscle fatigue.

Many players were able to rest against Eibar on Saturday and that should give Real an extra boost to conquer the Vicente Calderon and get a good result for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Simeone will recover striker Mario Mandzukic, who has been out the last few weeks due to injury, although Fernando Torres is expected to start as the number 9 since he’s had some pretty good performances against Los Blancos this year.

Possible line-ups:

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Gamez; Arda Turan, Gabi, Tiago, Koke; Griezmann, Torres.

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, James Rodriguez; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

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Atletico de Madrid boss Diego Simeone has heaped praise on Carlo Ancelotti, calling the Real Madrid coach ‘one of the best in the game.

The capital clubs meet this evening in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final tie with Ancelotti having been under increasing pressure in recent weeks having overseen a poor run of form since the turn of the year.

But three La Liga wins in the past 10 days have breathed new life into Los Blancos’ campaign, and Real will go to the Calderon full of confidence.

Speaking to the press ahead of the game, Simeone said he has a lot of respect for what Ancelotti has achieved in the game.

“I have a great deal of admiration for him as a person, a respected man who sticks to his principals through victory and defeat and this makes him different. Carlo is one of the best in the game and I’m proud to take him on,” he stated.

When asked about last season’s final, the Argentinean boss said Los Colchoneros can’t think about what happened in Lisbon.

“Comparisons to last season’s final is normal, for both sides. But we need to focus on what is going to happen tomorrow. What happened in the past is over. We have a great chance to do something important tomorrow.”

 

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