The Madrid derby is one of the fiercest derbies between city rivals in global football. While Real Madrid's dominance in this fixture is noted by their winning margin of 116 wins to 59, Atletico has prominently challenged the more successful Los Blancos, especially under manager Diego Simeone. This fixture has been a treat in the Spanish league where it is played twice every season aside from occasional meetings in domestic cup competitions. However, the Madrid derby went up a different level when it became a frequent fixture in the Champions League in the last decade. The continental meetings gave some unforgettable moments not just for the derby's history but also for the competition.
The first set of Madrid derbies in Europe took place when the competition known as the European Cup in the 1958-59 season in the semi-final stage. Real Madrid loyalty in the contest came with their attacking grit, while Atletico Madrid’s philosophy under Simeone was robust and pragmatic. So, the clash between the pair was intense, nervy and nothing short of entertainment, despite Real Madrid having the upper hand in all the battles. The passion the fixture brought was more important than the result. The sides played in two Champions League finals, met twice in the semifinal stage and once in the quarterfinals.
Here are some of the memorable Champions League meetings of the Madrid derby this century
Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2013-14 Champions League Final)
The first Madrid derby since the European Cup was renamed the Champions League was the 2013-14 Champions League final, which was held in Lisbon. Both teams had much more at stake than just winning the trophy. Despite being the record champions, Real Madrid had not entered the Champions League final since 2001-02, let alone winning it, whereas Atletico made history by qualifying for their debut showpiece. Two bright minds were on the touchline, an expert in winning this silverware in Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone, the man behind the transformation of Los Colchoneros to a La Liga heavyweight. The final was expected to be unpredictable and chaotic, even though Real were slight favourites for the battle. The showpiece did not disappoint by living up to its expectation.
Real Madrid powered their way to the 11th Champions League final in their history, dominating the group stage and crushing holders Bayern Munich 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-final. However, Atletico caused a surprise by eliminating heavyweights like AC Milan, fellow La Liga outfit Barcelona and Chelsea to reach this stage. Simeone’s men also took the lead in the final with their reliable captain Diego Godin heading the ball over a scrambling Iker Casillas to leave the white shirts stunned to the sheer joy of the Red-Whites. Ancelotti’s side now had a colossal task to breach the best defence in the competition that season with just six goals conceded. Otherwise, their dream of La Decima or winning an unprecedented 10 Champions League titles will not be a reality with the fans deemed to face the heat of their noisy city rivals. There was no way the record champions would have let that happen.
After throwing everything at the opposition defence, Real Madrid created an iconic moment in the Champions League final history with almost the last kick of normal time. Luka Modric swung in the last-ditch corner which was met expertly by Real’s maestro captain Sergio Ramos with one of the best headers in the sport forcing extra-time. Atletico’s tenacious work was undone as they could not recover from the late equaliser, leading to a total collapse in the following 120 minutes. Despite holding off the armory in the first half of extra-time, the defence was breached again as Gareth Bale completed the comeback with a thumping header from the saved rebound of Di Maria’s strike before left-back Marcelo added a third. The icing on the cake was done by none other than Cristiano Ronaldo, capped off with his shirtless celebration, retaining the white half of Madrid’s dominance in the competition.
Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid (2014-15 Champions League Quarterfinal)
The pair met again in the following season in the quarterfinal stage with memories of the dramatic final still very much alive in both teams’ memories. Atletico sought revenge in the evening where they came close to winning the Champions League in their debut final. Despite an entertaining first-leg at the Vincent Calderon, no goals were scored courtesy of an excellent performance by Atletico’s sensational goalkeeper Jan Oblak, while Iker Casillas also equal to the task with the handful of opportunities the home side created. Simeone’s men showed another commendable defensive display in their trademark philosophy. However, with no advantage to carry, they were left to do all in the second leg in the opposition’s den.
Winning at Santiago Bernabeu is a colossal task but that did not stop the visitors from frustrating the host to yield something in their favour. Oblak had another sensational outing with the Real’s attack finding it difficult to get past him again. However, the team could not have survived solely on defense, as their lack of attacking flair and nerves ultimately got the better of them when Arda Turan received his second yellow card just with 10 minutes or so left on the clock. Real Madrid could not have wasted the opportunity to triumph on the 10-men down city rivals and found another late winner in this fixture. Javier Hernandez, starting instead of the regular Karim Benzema, finally broke the resistance with time running out by slotting past Oblak after a surging run from Ronaldo on the left. Los Blancos put a dagger to their neighbour’s chest again completing another stiff challenge in an epic Madrid derby. The victory also ended their six-game winless run in this fixture.
Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid - Real Madrid won 5-3 on penalties (2015-16 Champions League Final)
As if it was written in the stars, the two Madrid clubs once again collided in the Champions League showpiece in the 2015-16 season, replaying the famous night at Lisbon. This time the stage was San Siro in Milan. Once again, both teams were desperate to outmuscle each other to set new records in their competition history. Real Madrid was in a new era under club legend Zinedine Zidane, who has done wonders in his debut season getting the club to another Champions League final so quickly. The club had the opportunity to add more to their record trophy win and thwart another burning desire of Atletico Madrid to take revenge on them. Los Rojiblancos continued to be a strong force thanks to their Argentinian coach’s invaluable contribution but a reward was still waiting. Even though the side won the La Liga and Europa League under him, the Champions League trophy is something they crave badly.
Real Madrid was again a major obstacle in their path to glory, starting the game on the front foot unlike the previous final meeting. Bale caused problems for Atleti’s defense with his crosses, one of which required a save from Oblak after Benzema’s attempt. He was the orchestrator for the first goal in the final, with the opposition’s villain in the last showpiece Ramos bundling in the Welshman’s free-kick to the euphoria of the Madrid supporters. However, the captain was clearly offside as shown by multiple replays but the linesman failed to see it in real time.
This was also pre-VAR days, making this one of the most controversial goals ever scored in the Champions League final. Simeone’s team felt wronged by the decision and rightfully so as they intensified their efforts to turn the game's momentum around, especially in the second half.
Atletico Madrid found a lifeline early in the second period, winning a penalty after Pepe fouled Antoine Griezmann in the box. The Frenchman quickly became a star for the club after joining them in 2014 and stepped up to be the difference-maker from the spot. However, his penalty ricocheted off the crosspiece to the utter frustration of the Atleti faithful. Without letting their spirit down after the miss, they use it as motivation to keep pushing for the equaliser. After Oblak made a decisive save at the other end, Yannick Carrasco latched onto Juanfran’s cross at the back post to finally get the leveller his team was desperate for. The final became anyone’s game following the equaliser, but both failed to create the opening in the remaining minutes and extra-time.
It meant the final would go on to penalties. Both Madrid clubs showed excellent precision from the spot until Juanfran stepped up to take his penalty. Unfortunately, the right-back who created the assist for the equaliser that gave them a sigh of hope struck the post. Their fear of missing out again became visible in their body language when Ronaldo stepped up to take the deciding penalty and did not fail. The shirtless celebration followed as Real Madrid triumphed over their city rivals again, leaving Los Colchoneros in despair as Los Blancos lifted yet another Champions League title. It was the first of the three peat they would achieve under their French boss going forward. However, their meeting did not end here as more dramatic matches were in store.
Real Madrid 3-0 Atletico Madrid (2016/17 Champions League Semifinal 1st Leg)
For the fourth consecutive season, the Madrid derby became the talk of the fixture in the Champions League. This time it was a last-four battle with Atletico witnessing a third final if they progressed and Zidane’s men fighting for consecutive final appearances for the first time since their golden age of winning the first five European Cups. Once again, the Madrid derby brought in a lot of stakes and the anticipation around the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu was building up. This clash being right after the season of the second final between the two resulted in both teams almost naming the same eleven as the night in Milan. So it was certainly a rematch.
However, unlike the previous tight battles, this match became largely one-sided due to another unearthly performance from Mr Champions League and Atletico’s arch nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo. The competition’s all-time top scorer scored a magnificent hat-trick to take a giant stride to the final in Cardiff. Just 10 minutes into the clock and the Portuguese headed home his first with Real Madrid keeping Oblak busy all the time. Simeone’s side kept it 1-0 at half-time and kept the host at bay for most of the second period until the pressure became too much. Ronaldo slammed in the second in the 73rd minute before completing the treble four minutes from the end. That was one of his eight career hat-tricks in the competition he dearly loves.
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Real Madrid (2016/17 Champions League Semifinal 2nd Leg)
Despite the electrifying support Atletico was due to receive at home for the second leg, only a miracle would have allowed them to overcome a 3-0 deficit. Until then, no other team was successful in doing so, having not found the net in the first leg. The attacking intent was largely mutated as Real Madrid’s sheer attacking power forced Simeone’s side to focus solely on defence. Just one shot on target out of four attempted, to eight out of 16 attempted, showed the disparity between the sides in the evening. However, with a big deficit to chase and the support of the home fans, Atleti felt confident to move out of their shell and show a more aggressive display on the attacking front.
Los Colcheronos were off from the first whistle testing Keylor Navas at the front post. From the resulting corner, Saul Niguez’s bullet header beat the Costa Rican keeper, pulling one back. That prompted a comeback feeling among the players as they continued to surge forward. Four minutes later, Atleti got their chance to double their lead and reduce their aggregate deficit when a penalty was awarded with Raphael Varane tripping Fernando Torres inside the box. Griezmann stepped up to take it with his penalty miss in the 2015-16 Champions League final against the same opponent still bugging the home support. The Frenchman made no mistake this time as Atleti went 2-0 up inside 17 minutes. Just the start they would have dreamed of.
The hosts were just one goal away from equalising the score of the tie and then it was anyone’s match. Griezmann’s redemption and a profitable lead in the Madrid derby over their rivals in front of their supporters, after much pain and agony, seemed like the ideal revenge Atletico was crafting to reach the showpiece again. Yet one thing that should not be taken lightly is Real Madrid in the Champions League and that is the mistake the host committed. Recovery from the early blows, Los Blancos sneaked in a goal minutes before half-time through Isco following some marvelous footwork from Benzema to leave the Calderón silent. Because of the now defunct away goal rule, Atleti were left with a far stiffer mountain to climb to score three more goals which they understandably failed to do. Despite winning for the first time against Real Madrid in the Champions League, there were no rewards to be taken.
