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28 March 2024

Champions League QF: Hernandez late show ends Real's Atletico jinx

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his fifth goal against Granada during their Spanish first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, April 5, 2015. (Reuters)

Published
By Football Correspondent and Agencies

Javier Hernandez’s late strike kept Real Madrid on course for a record-extending 11th European Cup crown with a 1-0 win over 10-man Atletico Madrid in a tense quarter-final at the Bernebau on Wednesday.

The first leg ended 0-0 and the tie appeared to be heading for a first goalless draw after two legs in Champions League knockout history until James Rodriguez slipped a pass through to Cristiano Ronaldo in the 88th minute.

The Portugal forward unselfishly squared for Hernandez and the Mexican striker stroked the ball past Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak to seal a 1-0 aggregate victory, Real's first win over Atletico in eight matches this season.

It was a bitter blow for Diego Simeone's men, who went toe to toe with the team that beat them in last year's final until playmaker Arda Turan was dismissed for a second booking 14 minutes from time and Hernandez applied the killer blow.

"It was my turn to score but this is for everyone," an emotional Hernandez, who is on loan at Real from Manchester United, told with Spanish television.

"Atletico are a worthy opponent," added the 26-year-old, who was playing only due to an injury to Karim Benzema. "Thank God, we were the worthy winners."

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, missing injured regulars Gareth Bale, Benzema and Luka Modric, started with Hernandez up front with Ronaldo and centre back Sergio Ramos pushed forward into a defensive midfield role.

Seeking to become the first team to retain the trophy in the Champions League era, Real had the upper hand in terms of possession and chances in a cagey first half.

Ronaldo forced a good save from Oblak with a 32nd-minute free kick before racing through with a clear site of goal a minute before halftime.

Oblak was again equal to the challenge, racing out to block Ronaldo’s fierce shot and deflect the ball away for a corner. Real threatened immediately at the start of the second period when Isco threaded a pass through for Hernandez but he scuffed his shot wide of the far post.

Atletico hopes suffered a massive blow when Arda picked up a second yellow for a foot-up challenge on Ramos and he was distraught as he trudged off to a cacophony of whistles.

The draw for the semi-finals is on Friday, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus joining Real in the pot.

Javier Hernandez stole the limelight in the absence of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema to net the winning goal in Real Madrid's 1-0 win over 10-man Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

With the first leg ending 0-0 the match looked like going into extra time when Hernandez bailed the Catalans out with an 87th minute goal. The credit however should go to Cristiano Ronaldo who played a nice one-two with James Rodriguez before releasing it to an unmarked Hernandez who tapped it home amid a host of legs.

It took Real eight matches to finally break Atletico's resilience and that too came after their neighbours were reduced to 10-men in the 75h minute after Arda Turan was red-carded.

Full-time

Real Madrid 1 (Hernandez 87") Atletico 0

93" YELLOW! Koke booked.

92" Illarramendi comes in for Isco.

91" Arbeloa replaces Coentrao and Hernandez makes way for Jese.

90" Five minutes added.

Real Madrid 1 (Hernandez 87") Atletico 0

87" GOAL! Ronaldo and James Rodriguez superbly weave their way through the Atletico defence with Ronaldo finding Hernandez who makes no mistake to put Real on the way to the semis.

84" Gimenez in for Tiago and that's Atleti's third substitution as the match seems to be heading for extra time.

82" Oblak almost ruined all his good work till now when he conceded a corner without any Real player in the vicinity. Luckily Real could not make the most of being a player extra than Atletico.

79" Another chance goes abegging as Oblak gets his fingertips to a Hernandez's angled shot. That was close.

75" RED! Arda Turan earns his second yellow and has to leave the field although his tackle on Ramos looked more threatrical from the Spanish defender.,

72" YELLOW! Pepe too is booked.

72" YELLOW! Garcia is shown the card for a tackle on Varane. He could miss the first leg of the semi-finals if Atletico get there.

69" On the other side Ronaldo tries a left footer but Oblak looks to have covered the angle and the ball nicely.

68" Koke breaks the Real shackles and manages a header but its weak and gives Casillas time to collect. 

64" Atletico make their second change bringing in Raul Garcia for Griezmann Antoine.

62" Ramos is unmarked in the Atletico box and in good position to receive Ronaldo's cross, his header is however directed straight at Oblak.

60" At the other end Varane makes a timely header for a corner before Mandzukic can do any damage.

57" Ronaldo dinks a ball into the box and Tiago, under pressure from Hernandez, heads for a corner.  

53" Hernandez goes for a header but is shoved in the head by Miranda. The Real Madrid forward appeals to the referee but play continues.

50" Real exert pressure with two corners in double-quick time. On the sidelines Atletico coach Diego Simeone is fuming.

47" Isco lovely through ball and Hernandez looks off-side but the flag is not up and the Mexican takes a hasty left footer with only Oblak at his mercy. The angle is difficult and Hernandez hits it far from the post.

45" Atletico make a substitution during the break bringing in Gabi for Saul Niguez.

Half-time

Real Madrid 0 Atletico 0

Ronaldo missed what looked like a sitter two minutes from half-time as Real Madrid were kept goalless by Atletico in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

Ronaldo would have scored such goals in his sleep but in Atletico's Jan Oblak he met his match. The goalkeeper was responsible for keeping Ronaldo and Co. quiet in the first leg and did so again with some brilliant saves, which also included the one from hand-shaking distance by Ronaldo.

45" Long whiste gone and still no breakthrough.

43" Ronaldo misses a golden opportunity after Rodriguez's superb through ball but Oblak charges out to make a timely and crucial save from the Real Madrid star from close distance.

40" Ronaldo cross for Hernandez but a defender heads for a corner.

35" With 10 minutes to go for the half-time whistle the match has failed to live up to expectations.

32" Ronaldo's free-kick, which is low and crisp, is blocked by a diving Jan Oblak.

31" YELLOW! Arda Turan is booked.

30" Rodriguez chips into the box and Hernandez darts in for a header but it deflects off a defender for a corner.

28" Rodriguez loses the ball to Jesus Gamez who blasts his right footer only for Casillas to bring off a good save.

26" Ronaldo is brought down just outside the box and Rodriguez takes the free-kick but shoots the swerving ball over. 

23" Atletico earn their second corner but fail to disturb Casillas in goal.

20" Arda Turan is the latest Atleti player to leave one on a team-mate as he swings an arm toward the face of Fabio Coentrao. No foul given.

18" Atletico have come into their own by maintaining some pressure on Real over the past few minutes. Nothing really thretening though for Real.

13" Ronaldo receives a pass from Rodriguez on top of the box, takes a grounded left footer but to his dismay it goes just wide off the mark leaving the Portuguese holding his head in his hands.

11" Poor effort from Hernandez there after Rodriguez put him through. The Mexican finds the side netting.

8" Real have camped themselves in the Atleti area but they won't be fazed as they have conceded only one goal in last eight CL games.

4" Ramos is unintentionally hit in the face by Saul, luckily no bleeding or treatment required.

2" Toni Kroos tries a loosener with a long range shot which sails wide.

Atletico get the game rolling after the whistle goes off.

Both teams are out in the middle as kick-off is a few minutes away.

We are 15 minutes away from kick-off and whistles and jeers greet the Atletico players as they go through their warm-up at the Santiago Bernabeu. But Atletico have not lost in seven meetings with Real this season - and that is their best ever run of results in the derby. If they make it eight tonight, they'll be in the last four.

It's seven changes in all for tonight's derby - with Real, in particular, badly affected by injuries. There's no Gareth Bale, no Karim Benzema, no Luka Modric while Marcelo drops out. In comes Pepe, Fabio Coentrao, Isco and Javier Hernandez. Sergio Ramos replaces Luka Modric.

For Atletico, Guilherme Siqueira, captain Gabi and Mario Suarez are replaced by Jesus Gamez, Tiago Mendes and Angel Correa.

STARTING XI

Real: Casillas, Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Coentrao, Isco, Ramos, Kroos, Hernandez, Ronaldo, Rodriguez.

Atletico: Oblak, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Gamez, Tiago, Koke, Saul, Arda, Griezmann, Mandzukic.

TEAM NEWS

Sergio Ramos is indeed playing in midfield for Real Madrid. He replaces Luka Modric, while Cristiano Ronaldo is joined up front by Isco and Javier Hernandez. Full team news is awaited.

Real Madrid will be without two thirds of their usual frontline in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Santiago Bernabeu after Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema were ruled out of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.

Bale has a calf problem and Benzema has a knee injury, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo, Javier Hernandez and Jese Rodriguez as Real's fit forwards.

Atletico are hopeful striker Mario Mandzukic will recover from an ankle injury.

The first leg at Atletico ended 0-0.

STAT ATTACK

Real Madrid

Have kept a clean sheet in 6 of their last 7 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

Undefeated in 17 of their last 19 home matches against Atletico in all competitions.

Undefeated in 11 of their last 12 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

Ronaldo scored his 50th goal of the seaon over the weekend.

European champions in 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014.

Atletico

Have kept a clean sheet in 7 of their last 8 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

Undefeated in 20 of their last 22 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

Undefeated in their last 9 matches against Real Madrid in all competitions.

Antoine Griezmann is the leading scorer for Atletico with 23 goals.

Finalists in 1974, 2014

PROBABLE FORMATIONS

Real Madrid: 4-4-2

Atletico: 4-4-2

Preview

Real Madrid have the unenviable task of beating city rivals Atletico Madrid at the eighth attempt this season if they are to progress to a fifth consecutive Champions League semi-final.

The European champions have failed to overcome Atletico in seven games since beating Los Rojiblancos in last season's Champions League final, including last week's 0-0 draw in the first-leg at the Vicente Calderon, and have also been struck by a series of injuries and suspensions to key players.

Luka Modric and Gareth Bale will miss out after limping off with knee and calf injuries respectively in the 3-1 win over Malaga at the weekend, whilst Marcelo is banned and Karim Benzema faces a race against time to be fit due to a knee problem.

Given those absences, the return to fitness and form of James Rodriguez is a huge boost for Los Blancos.

The Colombian World Cup star has scored twice in four games after a two-month injury layoff due to a broken foot to take his tally to an impressive 14 in his first season at the Bernabeu.

"Before I was out I was scoring goals, playing at a good level and now I think it is the same," he told Madrid's website.

"I want to continue like this, using my characteristics to help the team achieve important objectives.

"We are all dreaming of getting through this round and if I can score as well then it would be great. The most important thing is to win and get through this very difficult game, but we are in our own stadium with our own fans. I think it could be a great game."

However, Real will be faced with arguably the best defence in Europe on Wednesday. Atletico have conceded just once in their last eight Champions League games and have shutout their local rivals in four of their previous seven meetings this season.

"Atletico are an intense team that are very good at the back," added Rodriguez.

"There is always pressure. We have to manage it and we are going to do everything we can to win an 11th European Cup."

By contrast, Atletico have a clean bill of health with striker Mario Mandzukic expected to shake off an ongoing ankle problem to start alongside the in-form Antoine Griezmann up front.

Diego Simeone's men remain the underdogs in just their second Champions League quarter-final in 18 years, but midfielder Raul Garcia refuted the suggestion they have less to lose than the holders.

"I don't think we have less pressure. It is the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the two teams want to go through.

"Time will give more value to what we are achieving. Now it seems normal to be in the quarter-finals, to get to the semis would be very important."

Garcia maintained the Atletico party line of recent weeks in insisting there is no thirst for revenge after losing out in heartbreaking circumstances to Real in the Lisbon final last May.

However, he also dismissed the idea that Atletico now have a mental hold over Carlo Ancelotti's men having beaten them over two legs in the Spanish Supercup and the Copa del Rey already this season.

"Lisbon is forgotten. We don't live in the past. We would have loved to have won, but it doesn't change anything. If we had won, we would still want to go through now.

"We have to forget the previous games this year too. They only serve to know that we are doing the right things. We always say the games that have already been played don't matter."

Factfile on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid ahead of the Champions League quarter-final, second-leg tie between the clubs on Wednesday (score level at 0-0 after first-leg):

Form: Real Madrid remained just two points behind Barcelona courtesy of a 3-1 win over Malaga on Saturday, their fourth consecutive victory in La Liga.

Cristiano Ronaldo registered his 50th goal of the season at the weekend, despite a rare miss from the penalty spot earlier in the game, whilst James Rodriguez continued his fine form since returning from a broken foot with a stunning strike into the top corner.

However, Los Blancos suffered two huge injury blows as Luka Modric and Gareth Bale limped off ruling them out of the second-leg, whilst Marcelo is suspended and Karim Benzema remains an injury doubt.

Atletico took a step closer to sealing their place in next season's Champions League with a 2-1 victory at Deportivo la Coruna on Saturday to move four points clear of Valencia in third. Antoine Griezmann scored both goals to take his tally for the season to 23, including six in his last five games.

Coaches:


Real Madrid - Carlo Ancelotti (ITA) - 55 yrs
Atletico Madrid - Diego Simeone (ARG) -- 44 yrs

Leading scorers in all competitions:


Real Madrid - Cristiano Ronaldo (50 goals)
Atletico Madrid - Antoine Griezmann (23 goals)

Domestic league performance:

Real Madrid - Second in La Liga, two points adrift of Barcelona
Atletico Madrid - Third in La Liga, nine points behind leaders Barcelona

Road to quarter-finals:


Real Madrid - Winners of Group B ahead of Basel. Beat Schalke 5-4 on aggregate in the last 16.
Atletico Madrid - Winners of Group A ahead of Juventus. Beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw on aggregate in the last 16.

European Cup/Champions League best performances:

Real Madrid - winners 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014
Atletico Madrid - finalists 1974, 2014

Other honours:

Real Madrid - 32 x Spanish champions, 19 x Spanish Cup winners, 10 x Spanish Super Cup winners, 2 x UEFA Cup winners, 2 x UEFA Super Cup winners, 3 x Intercontinental Cup winners, 1 x Club World Cup winners

Atletico Madrid - 10 x Spanish champions, 10 x Spanish Cup winners, 3 x Spanish Super Cup winners, 1 x European Cup Winners' Cup, 2 x Europa League winners, 2 x UEFA Super Cup winners, 1 x Intercontinental Cup winners

Previous European Cup/Champions League meetings:

Real Madrid 2 Atletico Madrid 1 - 1958/59 European Cup semi-final, first leg
Atletico Madrid 1 Real Madrid 0 - 1958/59 European Cup semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid 2 Atletico Madrid 1 - 1958/59 European Cup semi-final replay
Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (after extra time) - 2013/14 Champions League final
Atletico Madrid 0 Real Madrid 0 - 2014/15 Champions League quarter-final, first leg