Ahead of the Champions League final, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone isn't underestimating a Real Madrid side he sees as having taken on a new life under Zinedine Zidane.
Argentine Simeone's Atletico at one point were neck-and-neck with Barcelona in a late dash to the title, but were usurped by Zidane's Madrid to runners-up with a scintillating run of their own to end the season. Real won their final 12 matches in La Liga to finish just a single point behind Barca, who despite a strange mid-April slide recovered to retain the Spanish title.
That stretch also saw Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Co breeze by AS Roma in the Champions League last 16, mount a sensational fightback against Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals and stifle Manchester City on their way into next Saturday's final. With their heralded 'BBC' trio finally healthy, Madrid finally reached a level they had struggled to get to all season.
Still, it will not be forgotten in Zidane’s camp that their one loss of note before they picked up steam came against none other than Atletico at the Bernabeu in February.
• Read more: Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico dominate Andy Mitten's La Liga Best XI of the Season
• Also see: David Beckham urges Real Madrid to stick with Zinedine Zidane for 'stability and continuity'
Simeone, however, feels the influence of Zidane has gradually instilled more solidity in the side since then. He admitted he was impressed by his counterpart’s work with Real.
“He has recovered the confidence, intensity and the speed of their attack,” Simeone said of Zidane. “He has a more concrete style to make the most of the three strikers.
“To get to a Champions League final is an important demonstration of his work.”
Yet, despite the presence of three-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive player in Bale and the likes of Benzema and Luka Modric, Simeone said he expects the Real to play on the counter-attack.
“In the Champions League that is clearly the route they have chosen,” added Simeone.
“I expect an opponent that will wait for their opportunity. The presence of Casemiro in midfield has given them a lot of power defensively and in the Champions League they have played on the counter-attack.”
Atletico traversed a more treacherous path to the final, edging Barcelona in the quarter-finals and then trumping Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. But Simeone’s star striker Antoine Griezmann, fifth-leading scorer in the competition this term with seven goals, says that it isn’t cause for any extra confidence.
“Just because we have beaten Bayern or Barca doesn’t mean we will win this match.
“It doesn’t guarantee anything. We have to give everything we have.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
THREE POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS
Khalfan Mubarak
The Al Jazira playmaker has for some time been tipped for stardom within UAE football, with Quique Sanchez Flores, his former manager at Al Ahli, once labelling him a “genius”. He was only 17. Now 23, Mubarak has developed into a crafty supplier of chances, evidenced by his seven assists in six league matches this season. Still to display his class at international level, though.
Rayan Yaslam
The Al Ain attacking midfielder has become a regular starter for his club in the past 15 months. Yaslam, 23, is a tidy and intelligent player, technically proficient with an eye for opening up defences. Developed while alongside Abdulrahman in the Al Ain first-team and has progressed well since manager Zoran Mamic’s arrival. However, made his UAE debut only last December.
Ismail Matar
The Al Wahda forward is revered by teammates and a key contributor to the squad. At 35, his best days are behind him, but Matar is incredibly experienced and an example to his colleagues. His ability to cope with tournament football is a concern, though, despite Matar beginning the season well. Not a like-for-like replacement, although the system could be adjusted to suit.
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
