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Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid are both in La Liga action this weekend, and a win for Diego Simeone’s team will move them to within three points of the title.

But the focus of the Madrid press this morning is still very much on the Champions League final on May 24. Yesterday, Iker Casillas and Thibaut Courtois took swapped football for tennis as the took part in the Charity Day at the Madrid Masters. There, the two goalkeepers joked that they would leave any rivalry aside until the big match in Lisbon.

Marca held a poll amongst its readers, asking them who is the favourite to win the cup this month. And of the 50,000 who voted, 60% said Los Blancos would win La Decima, with the remaining 40% saying Los Rojiblancos will win their first European Cup.

AS runs a feature on Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who already knows what it is like to win the European Cup on May 24. He was part of the team that lifted the trophy on that date in 1989 with AC Milan. Still a player, he helped his side to a win over Steaua Bucharest at the Camp Nou – and Milan were dressed in white on that occasion.

Away from the Champions League, Luka Modric may miss the match at home to Valencia tomorrow. The midfielder has picked up a knock and sat out training on Friday with the rest of his teammates.

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Alvaro Morata

Napoli have join the fight to sign Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata next summer, according to Italian website SportMediaset.it. Reports from this site suggest Napoli’s president Aurelio de Laurentiis has contacted Florentino Perez to start negotiating a possible move.

Morata, who has also been linked with a move to Arsenal and Inter Milan, might leave the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of this season looking for more minutes of play. Real Madrid would be willing to let him go, either on loan or in a permanent deal. In any case, it seems clear that the youngster will have plenty of offers to choose from.

Florentino Perez is convinced Morata can develop into an important player, thus he will try to make sure there will be a buy-back clause for the Spaniard to return to Madrid if the club wanted him.

Napoli could be an ideal destination for him to improve his game, since he’ll get help from former team-mates Gonzalo Higuain, Jose Callejon and Raul Albiol. Plus, the manager, Rafa Benitez, is a well-known Madridista.

Morata’s exit would leave Karim Benzema as the only striker in the squad. That would force Florentino Perez to bring another number 9. Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero are Los Blancos first choices. Yet, their high price might turn Real’s striker hunt into another never-ending story, just like that of Gareth Bale last summer.

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Champions League trophy

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are reportedly unhappy with the number of tickets they have been allocated for the Champions League final in Lisbon. Spanish sports newspaper Marca claims both teams are in talks to issue a joint statement to complain about this matter.

A representative from both clubs has complained that UEFA has picked a very small stadium for the event, since La Luz only holds 60,000 seats. The fact that UEFA keeps 24,000 tickets leaves the teams with only 36,000 to spare.

“We’re going to look bad to our season ticket holders, members, and fans in general, as well as official entities and sponsors, because we can’t meet even ten per cent of the ticket demand,” the representative told Marca.

Both Real Madrid and Atletico believe a Champions League final should be played in a stadium with capacity for at least 70,000 fans.

“Not playing in a stadium with capacity for more than 70,000 fans brings things to a head and ‘La Luz’ only holds 60,000 – 24,000 of which are for UEFA,” the spokesman said.

The fact that two teams from the same city are in contention and the short distance from Madrid to Lisbon have paved the way for a massive amount of fans to make the journey. Yet, they will have trouble finding tickets, and also finding accommodation. The average price of a hotel room in Lisbon for that night is 2,000 euros.

Both clubs understand the official commitments UEFA has to honour with regard to all the European football associations and the sponsors. However, Real and Atletico are upset about the way the tickets have been allocated, and they might issue an official complaint in the next few days.

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Bayern Munich were knocked out of the Champions League because they “Failed to control the counter-attacks,” Bayern’s Spanish defensive midfielder Javi Martinez has admitted.

The clinical 4-0 rout of the reigning trophy holders has set up a Madrid derby in the Lisbon final on the 24th of May after local rivals Atletico defeated Chelsea 3-1 on aggregate on Wednesday night.

A brace from Sergio Ramos within the first 20 minutes, later followed by two more goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, quickly took the game from Bayern as the German’s knew they required an unlikely four unanswered goals to progress.

“Their first two goals were set-pieces but they created a lot of danger on the break and we’ve been overmatched,” Martinez told Canal+, say AS.

The victory for Los Blancos has avenged the semi-final defeat to Bayern at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2012 and taken the side one step closer to finally achieving La Decima.

“We have been hungry and we wanted to win every title. This is football and today we’ve lost.

“We have to get up. We have to continue to rely on this team, we still have a trophy at stake,” Martinez added.

The two Madrid sides reaching the final has also ensured that Madrid will now equal Milan’s 10 Champions League trophies as most successful city in Europe’s top competition.

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The final of the Champions League remains very much on the agenda on the front pages of the Madrid press this morning.

AS and Marca both cover many issues on the front page, the main one being the ticketing issue. Both Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid will be given an allocation of 17,000 seats each for the match at the Estadio da Luz on May 24, and will need to hold a lottery amongst the fans as demand will be so big for tickets.

One of the key questions to arise since Los Blancos qualified is will prepared will Iker Casillas be. Carlo Ancelotti will revert to using Diego Lopez in goal against Valencia this weekend, and should he continue to use him for the remaining La Liga games, Casillas will play in the final having not played a match for more than three weeks.

It may be the case then that Ancelotti plays Casillas in the last two league games to keep him fit and ready for Lisbon. As has the latest stats on the World Cup winner – and in the 20 matches he has played for Madrid this season, he’s only conceded 13 goals.

In the latest team of the week announced by UEFA, Los Blancos have six players, while Atletico feature five. The six Madrid players are Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, Angel di Maria, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

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Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have reportedly joined the chase Wolfsburg’s highly rated left back Ricardo Rodriguez, according to UK press.

The pair, who faced each other in the Champions League semi final this week, have joined Manchester United and Chelsea in the race to sign one of Bundesliga’s brightest talents.

The 21-year-old, who has 19 caps for Switzerland, has helped Die Wölfe to fifth in the German top flight, and with only two games left are just one point behind Bayer Leverkusen who sit in the last Champions League spot.

Rodriguez, who could have represented Spain or Chile thanks to his father and mother respectively, has made 71 appearances since his 9 million euro move from FC Zurich and Wolfsburg are likely to make a profit on the youngster should he move.

Rodriguez is seen by many to Germany’s version of Luke Shaw, as both are young attacking full backs, and both are linked with mega money moves to bigger clubs.

However, whereas Shaw would move for around the 40 million euro mark, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich would be hoping to do a deal for Rodriguez for much less, as both try and step their recruitment drive before the World Cup in June.

 

 

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Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has said the yellow card rule is unfair but that he hopes his teammates can win the Champions League while he watches from the sidelines.

Already a booking away from being suspended, the 32-year-old picked up a yellow card in the first half at the Allianz Arena, ruling him out of the final in Lisbon on May 24. Despite knowing he wouldn’t be available, the World Cup winner put in a superb display in Germany and fought like a lion, ensuring the hosts never really threatened Iker Casillas in goal.

Speaking after the match, Alonso said he feels the rule is unfair, and admitted it will take time to get over not being able to play.

“It’s a shame not being able to play in it but I hope my teammates will win it and with time I’ll forget it. More than being an unfair card, I think it’s an unfair rule. The road to the final is very complicated. Let’s hope we do well and we can win it because the fans really want to play in a Champions League final,” he stated.

He then took the focus away from himself and stressed the most important thing was for Los Blancos to qualify for their first final in 12 years.

“It was an important day for the team and for the club. We have lost for three years, we were focused and we wanted to have a match to remember. The job is not yet done, now we want to win it,” he commented.

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Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti hailed his side after watching them qualify for the Champions League final with astonishing ease at the Allianz Arena.

Los Blancos beat holders Bayern Munich 4-0, with Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo grabbing a brace each. It means Real will appear in the final 12 year on from the last time they won the competition, and are on course still to win La Decima – the club’s 10th European Cup.

At his press conference after the match, Ancelotti, who twice won the competition while manager of AC Milan, said his players put in the perfect performance.

“It is of great satisfaction to us. It was a perfect match, above all the first half, when we defended very well and further up the pitch than in the first leg. We were very effective on the counter too and made the most of the pace of our strikers. We practised set-pieces and they worked really well for the first two goals”.

“Real Madrid came out on top of this match. I am lucky to coach the most important club in the world and I have to do everything I can to get the best results. After a 12-year absence Madrid is back in a Champions League final and that’s good for everyone.”

Looking forward to the final on May 24, Ancelotti said playing in the showpiece of European football is the main reason he wanted to come to the Spanish capital.

“Football has given me so much and I have the desire and energy to work to take this club, its fans and its players to the top. The objective was very big and I’m proud to have achieved it. When I arrived in Madrid I realised the importance of this competition and I could feel the dream of winning the Décima in the air. That is why we reached the final. We hope to have the same attitude in the final.”

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The identity of Real Madrid’s opponents in the Champions League final was revealed last night, and it’s none other than city rivals Atletico de Madrid.

Diego Simeone’s men, who have had an outstanding season so far and look set to win La Liga, defeated Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. The Blues took the lead through ex-Atletico striker Fernando Torres but failed to hold onto it as Adrian equalised before half time. Two second half goals blew Chelsea out of the water, and mean Mourinho will almost certainly end up empty handed in his first season back in west London.

The Madrid press are going to town today with the coverage of the match and looking ahead to the final. It will be an historic game, being the first European final played between two teams from the same city.  There has been an all Spanish Champions League final before, when Real Madrid met Valencia in 1999/2000. Los Blancos ran out comfortable 3-0 winners that night.

This year’s final will see Madridistas and Colchoneros decend on Lisbon on May 24. According to AS, each side will get an allocation of 17,000 tickets.

As well as the focus on Atletico, there is still coverage of Madrid’s win in Munich in Tuesday night. And Spanish national team boss Vicente del Bosque has had his say on Carlo Ancelotti.

He hailed the way Madrid played the game at the Allianz Arena, and said Ancelotti has enriched football as a manager.

 

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Two-goal hero Sergio Ramos has said he had a score to settle with Bayern Munich after helping his Real Madrid side reach the Champions League final.

The 28-year-old played a huge part in the sensational win in the Allianz Arena, scoring two headed goals in the first half to put his team comfortably ahead. He also put in a very disciplined performance at the back, walking a the tightrope all night long knowing a booking would rule him out of the final in Lisbon.

Speaking on TV straight after the game, Ramos expressed his delight at reaching the final – Madrid’s first in 12 years. And he added that after particular pain against the Bavarians, he felt he had got his revenge.

“The Champions League owed me one; and what’s more, against Bayern. The time with the penalty and the time with Oliver Kahn,” he said.

He dedicated one of his goals to a close friend of his, and another to his dad, but then played down his importance in scoring, preferring instead to focus on the team effort to overcome the holders.

“Goals are not that important, although it is very rewarding on a personal level but what’s most important is the team. We said we would give it our all and we did. Real Madrid is where it belongs. We’ve beaten the current champions on their home turf in true Real Madrid style.”

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