Champions League Final: Real Madrid Vs. Atletico Prediction, Preview And Live Stream

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are set to clash in the 2014 Champions League Final on Saturday. It pits two teams against one another that know each other well. This is the fifth final between two teams from the same country and domestic league, though the first time both teams have been from the same city. It is also the second year in a row that the Champions League final has been between two clubs from the same league.

  Munich who went on to win the next two European Cups to make it three in a row. Atletico has been led by Diego Simeone, who has brought them a La Liga and Copa Del Rey trophy domestically. On the European stage he was led them to a win in the UEFA Europa League Final in 2012 and a Super Cup that same season. Atletico Madrid midfielder Tiago was also quick to praise his manager, like Ramos, but maybe even more enthusiastically.

“I think for us, for all the club, he’s like a God,” Tiago said, via ESPN FC. “He arrived to the club and changed everything. What he says comes true.

“If he asks him to jump from a bridge, we jump. I think he knows a lot of football. We as a group follow him, and we’re very proud to have him as a coach.”

Nevertheless, booth coaches find themselves in a situation with a lot of pressure to defeat their rival. For Ancelotti it is the 10th European Cup win, and for Simeone it is getting the club their first. This might be where Ancelotti’s experience gives him an edge. Ancelotti said that he feels like giving his squad clear tactical instructions helps keep the players relaxed ahead of the big game.

“In this moment, the most important is to be relaxed,” Ancelotti said, via ESPN FC. “We will try and train well today and give them clear instructions for the game. This is a good way to avoid the pressure of the game. They can think about how to play it the best.”

Because it is two Madrid teams, from the same domestic league, it might not be as appealing of a match up on the international or even European stage. Despite that it should be an incredible final to watch because it pits two rivals against one another. Imagine the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox squaring off in the World Series.

If you want to watch this historic Champions League final, here is all the information you’ll need below.

Date: Saturday, May 24
Start Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Stadium: Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica
TV Info: FOX, FOX Deportes
Radio Info: Sirius XM FC
Live Stream: FOX Soccer 2Go (Subscription required) or Fox Sports Go (Free with cable provider info)
Mobile Device: FOX Soccer 2Go app or the FOX Sports Go app

The Brazil-born Spain international has scored a phenomenal 36 goals in all competitions this season to attract the attention of Chelsea, who he looks all-but certain to join this summer. But, having been bothered by niggling muscle problems for several weeks, Costa’s hamstring gave out and left him in tears on the sidelines during Atletico’s title decider against Barcelona last Saturday.

Atletico, though, both this season and in previous years have shown an incredible capacity to replace exceptional strikers. Last summer the prolific Radamel Falcao left Atletico, with many wondering how they could possibly replace his goals. Costa has done it seamlessly. Yet he has not been in the same sparkling form in recent weeks, with a grueling season perhaps taking its toll. In his absence Atletico have secured two of their biggest results of the season.

Adrian Lopez, twice capped for Spain but almost a forgotten man this season after just a handful of starts, has stepped in and like the rest of the squad fulfilled his role in the team superbly. In the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal against Barcelona, the versatile forward came in and assisted Koke’s decisive goal. In the return leg of the semifinal with Chelsea, Adrian again started and this time scored in a stunning 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge. And it was Adrian who replaced Costa at the Camp Nou on Saturday to play his part in a historic title-clinching draw. That result was also achieved after an injury to arguably Atletico’s most inventive player, Arda Turan. He, though, looks likely to return in time for Lisbon.

There is greater doubt over the participation of Real Madrid’s Pepe and Karim Benzema. While the hugely talented Raphael Varane could step in for Pepe, the loss of Benzema would require a reshuffle to the famed BBC frontline that has been so devastating this season, unless the young Alvaro Morata is thrown into the deep end of the Champions League final for only his second start in the competition.

It is the final’s only confirmed absentee, though, which could prove decisive. Xabi Alonso’s yellow card in the second leg of Madrid’s semifinal with Bayern Munich means Ancelotti will be unable to call upon the Spain international’s underrated and hugely influential presence. The pivot in Madrid’s midfield, Alonso sets the rhythm for the team and is so often is the supply line to Ronaldo. To stop Ronaldo you have to stop Alonso is an idea that Manchester United, far from the first or last to do so, adopted in their Champions League match up last year and it worked a treat until they were forced down to 10 men.

Alonso’s absence for the first two-and-a-half months of the season was all-too apparent. It was during that spell that Madrid lost to Atletico at home in the league, while the team was often crudely unbalanced. With Sami Khedira, who has played just 63 minutes since missing six months with a knee injury, and Asier Illarramendi as the possible replacements, Alonso will be hard to replace.

Illarramendi was signed as the heir apparent to Alonso for a massive €30 million last summer, but has not yet shown himself capable of filling the former Liverpool man’s boots. He was a part of the Madrid side that almost surrendered a 3-0 lead to Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal when his hesitation on the ball led to a breakaway goal. Similar lack of decisiveness in the midfield in Lisbon could be fatal.

Who do you think will win? Let us know in the comments below.

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