Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid. UEFA Champions League Quarter Final.
Santiago BernabeuAttendance78,300.
1-0
Wednesday 22 April 2015 19:43, UK
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.
Keeper Jan Oblak was Atletico's hero in the first leg at the Vicente Calderon as he denied European champions Real a priceless away goal as the clash at Vicente Calderon ended 0-0.
The 22-year-old Slovenian pulled off two vital first-half saves, the first of them at point-blank range, to deny Gareth Bale and enable Atletico to extend their unbeaten record against Carlo Ancelotti's men this season to seven games.
Los Rojiblancos have beaten their neighbours four times and drawn against them three times in their bid for revenge for last season's Champions League final, which Real won 4-1 after extra time.
Real, who have been struck by a series of injuries and suspensions to key players, will be faced with arguably the best defence in Europe at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Atletico have conceded just once in their last eight Champions League games and have shut-out their local rivals in four of their previous seven meetings this season.
Real midfielder James Rodriguez expects a tough second leg clash against their city rivals on Wednesday night.
"We have to show intensity, be completely focused, play well, (we must) all stick together. I think that if we do that we'll come away with an excellent result," Rodriguez told the club's official website.
"We are all dreaming of getting through this round, and if I can score too that would be great. What is important is winning and getting through this tough match, which is going to be difficult, but we are at our home stadium and in front of our fans. I think it could be a great match."
Rodriguez added: "Atletico are an intense team who are good at the back and are a unit. There's always pressure here. You have to know how to handle it. We are going to give everything to be able to win La Undecima."
Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann, meanwhile, thinks his side will follow up their strong performances against Real with a victory on rival turf with a place in the last four at stake.
"We are pleased with our performances this season against Real, but we know that we are going to suffer a lot on Wednesday," the France international said.
"With every game I play here I am more settled and confident. I hope I can help the team to prevail Wednesday."
"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."
Team news
Real will be without Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and playmaker Luka Modric for the tie, which will intensify pressure on talisman Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez to lead them through.
Modric and 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 suspended and Benzema has been ruled out due to a knee ligament injury.
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."
Betting
Real Madrid are odds-on (4/7) to advance to the semi-final with Sky Bet after keeping a valuable clean sheet in the first leg. Atletico Madrid travel to the Bernabeu with odds of 5/4 to progress, and 18/5 to do so in style by winning on the night. A score draw would take the visitors through though, and it’s 7/2 for Atletico to draw either 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3. Both Jamie Redknapp and Charlie Nicholas have tipped up a 1-1 draw at 11/2, while Phil Thompson thinks Real will do enough to advance – he’s picked the hosts to win 2-1 at 7/1.
Watch Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid for a place in the Champions League semi-finals, live on Sky Sports 1, from 7pm on Wednesday 22 April.