World Cup winner Toni Kroos and his Real Madrid side have secured a place in the final of the Champions League, which will take place on June 3rd in Cardiff. Despite the 2-1 scoreline in a tightly contested semi-final second-leg against rivals Atletico Madrid, Los Blancos and Kroos booked themselves a trip to the final against Sami Khedira’s Juventus, with whom Kroos won a World Cup with, after the Italian side knocked out AS Monaco last night. Record champions Real Madrid have the chance to become the first team in the history of the competition to successfully defend their title when they face the Old Lady in Wales’ national stadium.
In what was the last European match to take place in the legendary Estadio Vicente Calderon, Isco (42’) found himself on the scoresheet for the guests, after being assisted by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored all three goals in the first-leg’s 3-0 victory. The defiant hosts took the lead after an electric start through Saul (12’) and striker Antoine Griezmann (16’, penalty). Despite the lead, last year’s finalists had their dream’s dashed, going out to Los Blancos.
Ateltico start off strong
The Colchoneros had a fantastic start against Zinedine Zidane’s side in front of a crowd of 50,000. Atletico took a deserved lead, thanks to a corner ball whipped in from Koke which found the head of Saul. Griezmann then got Atletico’s second of the night, and his sixth of their Champions League campaign, through a penalty, following a foul on Fernando Torres committed by Raphael Varane in the box.
Real were stunned and offered very little going forward prior to Isco’s goal. Kroos got the assist for the Spaniard’s goal, as the former FC Bayern midfielder’s shot was saved by Jan Oblak before Isco reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.
Following the break, Real looked far more solid defensively than they did in the first 45 minutes, with Atletico struggling to create as many chances against them. Griezmann and Co. weren’t giving up though, and were almost rewarded with a goal through a chance which saw Kevin Gameiro and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco denied by a fantastic double-save from Real’s keeper Keylor Navas 66 minutes in. Bar that chance, Real shut up shop and looked impenetrable, and while they suffered their first loss in Europe in 13 months, it’s not one they’ll lose any sleep over.
World Cup winner Toni Kroos and his Real Madrid side have secured a place in the final of the Champions League, which will take place on June 3rd in Cardiff. Despite the 2-1 scoreline in a tightly contested semi-final second-leg against rivals Atletico Madrid, Los Blancos and Kroos booked themselves a trip to the final against Sami Khedira’s Juventus, with whom Kroos won a World Cup with, after the Italian side knocked out AS Monaco last night. Record champions Real Madrid have the chance to become the first team in the history of the competition to successfully defend their title when they face the Old Lady in Wales’ national stadium.
In what was the last European match to take place in the legendary Estadio Vicente Calderon, Isco (42’) found himself on the scoresheet for the guests, after being assisted by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored all three goals in the first-leg’s 3-0 victory. The defiant hosts took the lead after an electric start through Saul (12’) and striker Antoine Griezmann (16’, penalty). Despite the lead, last year’s finalists had their dream’s dashed, going out to Los Blancos.
Ateltico start off strong
The Colchoneros had a fantastic start against Zinedine Zidane’s side in front of a crowd of 50,000. Atletico took a deserved lead, thanks to a corner ball whipped in from Koke which found the head of Saul. Griezmann then got Atletico’s second of the night, and his sixth of their Champions League campaign, through a penalty, following a foul on Fernando Torres committed by Raphael Varane in the box.
Real were stunned and offered very little going forward prior to Isco’s goal. Kroos got the assist for the Spaniard’s goal, as the former FC Bayern midfielder’s shot was saved by Jan Oblak before Isco reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.
Following the break, Real looked far more solid defensively than they did in the first 45 minutes, with Atletico struggling to create as many chances against them. Griezmann and Co. weren’t giving up though, and were almost rewarded with a goal through a chance which saw Kevin Gameiro and Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco denied by a fantastic double-save from Real’s keeper Keylor Navas 66 minutes in. Bar that chance, Real shut up shop and looked impenetrable, and while they suffered their first loss in Europe in 13 months, it’s not one they’ll lose any sleep over.
