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And a hint from Ancelotti on what he expects from his side:
Díaz going to play in Bellingham’s position and, while I won’t mind him occasionally looking to work down the right, I’ve asked him to do the job Jude usually does.
Valverde’s so important to us. Everyone knows what he brings. He’s a key figure and today he’s our captain. I’m glad he’s recovered quickly and he’s all right for this match. I think he’s got the full 90 minutes in him.
Diego Simeone on Real’s change in midfield without Bellingham:
Díaz is an important player offensively. I expect Tchouaméni and Camavinga to offer more positional control, with Valverde more focused from the wing.
It will be a typical game against them – very competitive. There will be moments in which either team will be superior. Whoever makes the best of those will take the advantage.
Two players, with very different expectations, made the move to Real and Atlético, last summer. Tonight they come head to head.
We have live coverage of the other action in Europe tonight. Catch up on the final minutes of Club Brugge v Aston Villa with Will Unwin. Someone (no spoilers!) has just scored!
And join Niall McVeigh for PSV v Arsenal. Is this do or die for Mikel Arteta?
Real may not be an imperious form but they are true kings of this competition. They have only lost one of their last 17 matches (11W, 5D) in the knockouts and are currently unbeaten in nine (5W, 4D) since their defeat against Manchester City in 2022-23.
The last time Atlético faced Real in this competition was in the semi-finals back in 2017, which they lost on aggregate. They also lost to them in the 2015 quarter-finals, the 2014 final and the 2016 final.
For Real Madrid, Valverde returns from injury and captains the hosts as Modrić and Vázquez only make the bench. Jude Bellingham misses out entirely due to suspension so Ancelotti has gone with Díaz alongside the French duo of Camavinga and Tchouaméni in midfield.
For the visitors Giménez and Llorente return in defence as does the in-form Alvarez, who has 21 goals and five assists this season. Gallagher, who has been feeling the love in his new home, starts on the bench.
The teams
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rüdiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Díaz; Rodrygo, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior
Subs: Lunin, González, Alaba, Modrić, Güler, Endrick, Vázquez, García
Atlético Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Giménez, Lenglet, Galán; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Lino; Alvarez, Griezmann
Subs: Musso, Gomis, Molina, Witsel, Mandava, Le Normand, Gallagher, Lemar, Riquelme, Sørloth, Correa
Referee: Clement Turpin (France)
Tonight we will be seeing a battle between two greats in Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone. Heading into their 27th clash, with the two managers having faced each other more often than any other rival in their careers, they are tied at nine wins each along with eight draws. Those matches have seen countless goals and memorable moments filled with drama and tension but ultimately, Ancelotti has said he has nothing but “respect” for his counterpart.
Now, as a coach, I respect him a lot. He’s a great manager. He has done very well at Atlético, taken them to the highest level in Europe. I like the way he reads the games, how he gets the team on the pitch, the strategy, the commitment his team has defensively. I like all of these aspects a lot.
Preamble
The 2024-25 Champions League knockout round has officially begun and it truly does not get better than the two heavyweights from the Spanish capital facing off with European football at stake.
The reigning champions, Real, have been inconsistent this season – even in Europe – and were forced to compete in the knockout play-offs after finishing 11th in the league phase. There, they beat Manchester City at the Etihad and then at home to set up this tie against their crosstown rivals.
Atlético, on the other hand, finished fifth in the league phase, with statement wins against the German champions, Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain. They sit second in La Liga, two points ahead of Real.
This will be the 10th meeting between the sides in this competition, the joint most (alongside Liverpool and Chelsea).
Join me for what will be the 10th meeting between these two sides in this competition. As always, feel free to send me your thoughts, predictions, questions, complaints and favourite Madrid derby moments via email.
This is the Madrid Derby: Champions League edition. Kick-off is 8pm GMT, 9pm CET.
