Atletico win Madrid derby to move closer to next season’s Champions League
Real Madrid made seven changes to the team that defeated Manchester City on Wednesday night, and it showed, particularly in a disjointed first-half performance.
Real Madrid made seven changes to the team that defeated Manchester City on Wednesday night, and it showed, particularly in a disjointed first-half performance.
Last Saturday saw Carlo Ancelotti's men crowned La Liga champions with four games left to play, while Wednesday saw them produce yet another miracle comeback in the Champions League with two goals in the last two minutes to book their place in the tournament final.
FC Barcelona had never lost four consecutive games at the Nou Camp, and goals from Memphis Depay and Sergio Busquets ensured that history was not made.
Marcelo is in his sixteenth season at Real Madrid, making him the club's foreigner with the most appearances. He has made 545 appearances and scored 38 goals for the Los Blancos since making his debut on January 7, 2007, against Deportivo.
Ancelotti has now led clubs to league titles in Spain (Real Madrid), Italy (AC Milan), England (Chelsea), France (Paris Saint-Germain), and Germany (Bayern Munich).
"He makes himself available and is a real team player," Zidane said about Benzema.
The 28-year-old is among the few to have achieved success for club and country both.
The 27-year-old was repeatedly linked with Real Madrid in the close-season and hinted he was keen to leave Stamford Bridge.
After learning who they must face in this season's Champions League group stage, holders Real Madrid and rivals Barcelona sink their teeth into Liga opponents this weekend as the only sides to have won their first two games.
Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur face each other in a testing Group B along with Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven, the 1988 European Cup winners.
