With the Uefa Champions League semi-final first legs starting May 2, with Real Madrid taking on city rivals Atletico and Italian giants Juventus up against Monaco, our writers each pick a team who they think will go on to lift the trophy in Cardiff on June 3. Here, John McAuley tells you why Real Madrid will win.
■ Read our other writers' picks on who will win: Atletico Madrid | Monaco | Juventus |
1). Cristiano Ronaldo’s talent – and ego
Cristiano Ronaldo’s determination to drag his team – and himself - to Uefa Champions League glory was evident in the quarter-final against Bayern Munich, when he scored five times across two legs. The Portuguese has recovered from a slow start in the competition – two goals in eight games – to become the first in Champions League history to reach 100. Often rested before important matches, he should be coming into form at exactly the right time.
And, make no mistake, Ronaldo wants to reign supreme in Europe more than anything. He would have been particularly hurt by Lionel Messi’s match-winning, headline-grabbing display in last month’s clasico, when the Argentine completely outshone his great rival. This is Ronaldo’s chance to seize back the limelight.
2). Not ‘BBC’ or bust
Benzema-Bale-Cristiano: it is a formidable frontline, an obvious challenge to the Messi-Suarez-Neymar triumvirate in terms of the game’s most frightening front threes. However, there is much more to Madrid’s attacking prowess than that, as evidenced this past month when Gareth Bale has been injured and Karim Benzema not quite at his best.
In Isco, the reigning champions have a superb technician who has displayed his quality in recent weeks. Add in Marco Asensio, the young attacking midfielder destined to be a real star, and the goal-threat provided by captain Sergio Ramos, and Madrid seem well-equipped throughout. Suddenly their defensive deficiencies – 10 clean sheets from 53 matches this season – do not seem quite as telling.
3). Flying full-backs/the Ramos factor
Madrid’s full-backs add an extra dimension to that attack, with Marcelo and Dani Carvajal combining this season to provide 21 assists. In Marcelo, the club can claim to have one of Europe’s most influential left-backs. Although the Brazilian can chip in with key goals, his effectiveness comes in his ability to operate well in both attack and defence.
He is supported on the other flank by Carvajal, a tenacious right-back with the ability to hurt teams further forward.
Then there is Sergio Ramos. The Spaniard is decisive in both penalty areas, more often than not proving the man for the big occasion. That’s if, of course, he can stay on the pitch.
4). Record over rivals
At present, Atletico Madrid stand in the way of successive finals, while should Real Madrid get past their city rivals, they will meet either Juventus or Monaco in the showpiece. As Madrid have shown, they tend to have the measure of Atletico in Europe’s premier club competition, having defeated them in two of the past three finals and a quarter-final in between. Granted, both finals have been incredibly close affairs: Madrid required a 93rd minute goal to push the 2014 match into extra time and then needed penalties last May. However, that proves they know how to get the job done, something that will count considerably when it comes to Juve or Monaco, too.
5). Opportunity to create history
As mentioned, Madrid have been there, done it. They have lifted the trophy in two of the past three years and in 2014 finally put to bed their prolonged hunt for la decima. Now they have another chance to write another piece of history. No team in the Champions League era has retained the title, with AC Milan the last side to achieve the feat in the European Cup, claiming the crown in 1989 and 1990.
Madrid know their place in the record books will be secure if they manage to make it consecutive successes. No doubt, that added incentive will drive the club on through the final few stages of the tournament.
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