Madrid derby in quarters a re-run of last Champions League final
Madrid derby in quarters a re-run of last Champions League final
Since losing that final, Atletico have been undefeated in the six matches the crosstown rivals have played.

Madrid: Defending champions Real Madrid travel to last season's runners-up Atletico Madrid for the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final with more than a hint of revenge about it.

Last year, Madrid lifted the silverware by beating an exhausted Atletico 4-1 after a very late Sergio Ramos goal extended the match into extra time in the Lisbon final. The manner of that defeat rankled with Atletico fans.

Since then, under coach Diego Simeone, Atletico have been undefeated in the six matches the crosstown rivals have played in - winning four and drawing two.

Now, Atletico's best chance of advancing beyond the quarter-finals will rest on not conceding goals at home and whether they can establish a lead they can later defend away at the Santiago Bernabeu.

A Vicente Calderon stadium packed with fans has historically proved an important boost for Atletico, particularly since Simeone arrived as coach in 2011.

With the Spanish league slipping out of defending champions Atletico's reach this season after a 2-2 draw at Malaga, Simeone will be eager to show his squad still merits respect on the European stage.

However, Carlo Ancelotti will be equally determined to show fans and club chairman Florentino Perez that he is the coach to take Madrid to their 11th Champions League title and beyond.

Here are some things to know about Tuesday's game:

RED-HOT RONALDO

Cristiano Ronaldo - who has scored 49 goals in all competitions this season - matched Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano's La Liga tally of 216 goals when he scored against Eibar at the weekend.

The Portugal forward reached the landmark in 193 games, whereas Di Stefano - whose memory is revered by Madrid fans - did so in 282 appearances. Ronaldo now has Raul Gonzalez's record of 228 goals in sight.

However, his away tally is 93, lagging behind his scoring rate of 123 in the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo has scored eight Champions League goals this season, one more than the combined tally of Atletico's attacking duo Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann.

BALE IS BACK

Ancelotti's favoured three-pronged attack of Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale looks set to be restored with the likely reincorporation of the Welsh star into the squad.

"They are all available to me for Tuesday's match," Ancelotti said.

Bale missed Madrid's 3-0 La Liga win against Eibar on Saturday after picking up a muscle strain as a result of a tough tackle during the previous match against Rayo Vallecano.

Bale began training alongside Ronaldo, Jese Rodriguez, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Alvaro Arbeloa, the club said.

Madrid look to have their squad uninjured and at full strength for the first time in five months.

"I see it all clearly, all I need is the result now," Ancelotti said.

MANDZUKIC RETURNS

Mandzukic, who was injured for Atletico's last two matches, has resumed training with Simeone's squad after undergoing therapy for painful tenosynovitis in his right foot.

With 20 goals this season, the 28-year-old Croatia forward has enjoyed a successful attacking partnership with Griezmann. Between them, they have scored 41 times in all competitions.

"We know that it is normal to have some down moments in a season, but we are up there, fighting for the Champions League, and we have to continue like this," Griezmann said. "We have to be strong. We know that if we don't concede a goal a win will be easier."

Mandzukic scored twice when Atletico overran Madrid 4-0 in February for the team's biggest derby win in 28 years.

Before the draw against Malaga, Atletico's defence had not conceded a league goal since the 1-1 Round-26 draw against Valencia in early March.

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