The League proceeded in an orderly fashion, and at the same time, the Champions League was in full swing.
This week was a week of football for Madrid!
Madrid could see two Champions League matches!
The first was Atlético Madrid at their home ground against Chelsea!
The second was Real Madrid at their home ground against Bayern Munich!
Atlético Madrid had a goalless draw against Chelsea away, with both sides drawing a blank, but as they entered the crucial Champions League match, both teams made some adjustments.
Inside Suker's villa, Kaka, Srna, Benzema, Bale, and others gathered to watch the match.
Their match was tomorrow, but they also needed to pay attention to this match in advance.
For Chelsea, Lampard and John Obi Mikel were suspended, but fortunately, Ivanović was back from suspension, and Hazard and Terry also recovered from injuries in time to play, which greatly increased Chelsea's theoretical strength.
Looking back at Chelsea's past matches against La Liga teams, except for 1-2 matches against Real Madrid and Barcelona, all others were draws or victories.
On the other hand, things were not so optimistic for Atlético Madrid!
In their history, they had nine major battles against England teams, winning only one, with four draws and four losses. Their only victory was in the first round of the 1997 UEFA Cup against Leicester City.
It could be said that this match put a lot of pressure on Atlético Madrid, and they also needed to be in better playing condition.
Chelsea and Atlético Madrid were somewhat similar in overall style; both were teams that primarily focused on counter-attacks.
This meant that the offensive performances of the two teams would not be so intense.
Launching appropriate counter-attacks at the right time was what they needed to focus on.
However, after 19 minutes into the match, the overall rhythm became a bit chaotic.
This was mainly due to Chelsea player Hazard's continuous breakthroughs in the front, which put too much pressure on Atlético Madrid, causing their players to want to clear the ball as quickly as possible, leading to accelerated counter-attacks, a faster rhythm, and more intense confrontations.
"It's so messy!"
Bale said, stroking his chin.
"Premier League teams are like that!" Benzema shook his head.
When they played against Premier League teams, they would often enter into this chaotic rhythm.
It wasn't that they couldn't adapt to this rhythm, but it was clearly more favorable to Premier League teams.
After all, these guys could always score one or two incredible goals in such matches.
And indeed, in the 31st minute, Chelsea accurately seized a counter-attacking opportunity. Willian broke free from two defenders on the right and passed the ball, Azpilicueta followed up with a cross, and Torres scored with a low shot.
Chelsea opened the scoring.
However, Torres chose not to celebrate after scoring.
His goal also left Atlético Madrid fans with mixed feelings.
He was once their 'El Niño'!
Even if he was an opponent, they couldn't bear to boo him!
Moreover, Torres's refusal to celebrate after scoring fully showed respect for his former club.
But Atlético Madrid's comeback came even faster.
As the first half neared its end, Chelsea's defense had some issues, failing to keep up with the overall movement.
This allowed Koke to drive deep on the left, eventually assisting Adrián, who successfully scored from close range, equalizing the score.
And Terry, facing this defense, was unable to track back in time to make an effective interception or tackle.
The first half ended with a 1:1 draw.
Building on the draw, the two teams fought even more intensely in the second half.
However, at this point, Atlético Madrid's form and momentum were fully displayed.
As a young team, as a team always full of passion.
Their defense began to become more solid, while their offense and counter-attacks also became more excellent.
Under surging morale, Simeone's team began to dictate the rhythm on the field, launching successive attacks on Chelsea's goal, which also caused Chelsea to become increasingly flustered.
"Atlético Madrid is in form!"
Kaka shook his head and said, "When they're in this form, we always have a tough time!"
The others also nodded in agreement.
Atlético Madrid was similar to Borussia Dortmund; both were teams that relied heavily on form and morale.
Once they entered this state, their overall match performance received a huge boost, which also led to their excellent performance in both offense and defense.
When Real Madrid played against Atlético Madrid several times, they always had to exert pressure in the first half to crush Atlético Madrid, to prevent them from entering this 'mad dog' state, which made it very difficult for themselves.
However, Real Madrid had a natural advantage when playing Atlético Madrid.
That was the fear and pressure in the hearts of Atlético Madrid players under long-term suppression, which was also a significant boost to the winning rate.
Under long-term suppression, Atlético Madrid's fear of Real Madrid had reached a certain level.
Especially their fear of Suker, that was even greater!
This was also why Atlético Madrid always performed less than ideally whenever they met Real Madrid.
They couldn't play the rhythm they wanted.
They were familiar with Real Madrid, and precisely because of this, they feared Real Madrid.
And Real Madrid was also familiar with Atlético Madrid, and could better suppress them.
The 60th minute marked a turning point.
Costa was fouled in the penalty area, earning a penalty kick, which he calmly converted.
This goal gave Atlético Madrid the lead, and also turned the tide. Not only that, but the overall atmosphere also became even more heated.
The entire Atlético Madrid home ground also became heated.
The fervent cheers and shouts of Atlético Madrid fans echoed throughout the stadium.
The fans were going crazy!
The last time Atlético Madrid reached the Champions League Final was back in the 1973/1974 season.
After 40 years, they finally saw this sign again. How could they not be excited?
40 years!
That was equivalent to half a century!
Young people who witnessed Atlético Madrid reaching the Champions League Final last time were now even old and frail.
Under such excited emotions, Atlético Madrid's offense became even more intense.
Finally, in the 80th minute, multiple Atlético Madrid players made several attempts at goal in front of Chelsea's net, and Juanfran scored with a follow-up shot from a tight angle.
The final score was also set at Atlético Madrid 3:1 Chelsea.
The aggregate score between the two sides was also the same!
"A 90-minute battle! The match has finally ended, Atlético Madrid defeated Chelsea, becoming the first team to reach the Champions League final!"
"This is also their second time reaching the Champions League final in their history, the last time dating back 40 years!"
"40 years of waiting, all for this moment!"
"Everyone at Atlético Madrid today is a hero. Simeone has forged this team into an iron-blooded strong army. They forcefully snatched the Champions League final spot from Chelsea."
"Let us congratulate Atlético Madrid, congratulate them, excellent lads!"
González was very excited. He continuously praised Atlético Madrid's players and also began to fantasize about a wonderful future.
"Now, the pressure is on Real Madrid!"
"Tomorrow's match, at the Bernabéu Stadium not far away, Real Madrid will host Bayern Munich, and the winner will get another Champions League final spot!"
"If Bayern Munich wins the Champions League, they will officially begin their path to consecutive titles, and may even become the third team to win consecutive Champions League titles, after AC Milan and Real Madrid!"
"If Real Madrid defeats Bayern Munich and reaches the final, it will also be a historic moment. This will be the first time in the hundred-year history of the Champions League that a city derby appears at the final level."
"No matter from what perspective, this is something we can look forward to!"
"Guys, that's all for today's commentary, see you tomorrow!"
The match ended, but the jubilation of Atlético Madrid fans had not ceased.
The Champions League final after 40 years made all Atlético Madrid players heroes in the hearts of the fans!
They cheered and shouted in the streets, excited beyond control.
"Yes! We won, we reached the Champions League final, look at this match, how great we played, we will not fear anyone, our players are the best, Real Madrid? Bring it on! We are not afraid of you!"
"This is a moment to be proud of, of course, the Champions League is not over yet, it has come to the most crucial moment, I hope the players do not let their guard down, finally, we will always support you!"
"Let's kick Real Madrid's ass!"
"We are invincible!"
Facing the cameras, the Atlético Madrid fans were visibly excited.
Spurred by the victory and the excitement of the Champions League, they partied almost all night.
The entire city of Madrid was buzzing with noise from these fans, lively for a whole night!
The next day, one wave of enthusiasm subsided, but another passion quietly unfolded.
In the city center of Madrid, groups of Real Madrid fans appeared. Although it was still daytime, their passion was intense.
Yesterday was a carnival for Atlético Madrid fans, and as Real Madrid fans, they scoffed at it.
A bunch of inexperienced guys!
A Champions League ticket got them so excited; Real Madrid has won the Champions League how many times already!
Of course, while they thought that, this match was still crucial.
They secured a victory in the previous round, defeating Bayern Munich.
Now back at home, despite being in the lead, there was still pressure.
But recalling Real Madrid's performance in the previous round, they felt a little comforted.
At the very least, their form was better, and they had Suker, that super key player!
At the entrance of Real Madrid's training base, a large number of fans and media reporters gathered.
However, they could only stare at the entrance and could not enter.
Inside the training base, Real Madrid players were scattered, training.
Some were practicing ball control, some were dribbling through cones, some were shooting, and some were stretching.
They were doing all sorts of things, but there was a pervasive sense of ease.
The intensity of pre-match training should not be too high; a simple sweat would suffice.
At the same time, players also needed to enter the physiotherapy room one after another for massage and relaxation, to keep their muscles in optimal condition.
"Haa~~~"
Suker lay on the bed, receiving a massage, and couldn't help but let out a long yawn.
"Didn't you sleep well?"
Zidane, who was beside him, immediately became nervous.
Suker shook his head: "I'm just a bit sleepy, it must be the season."
Every time it was this season of blooming flowers, it was particularly easy to feel sleepy during the day.
Zidane: "There's no special training this afternoon, go take a nap to recharge your energy."
Suker thought for a moment and nodded.
Indeed, a nap would help.
He wasn't going home to sleep; there were rest areas provided inside the training base.
"Thank you, Mr. Mas!"
After the massage, Suker got up and greeted the physiotherapist, then walked towards the rest area.
The rest area was about 500 meters away, further from the field for a quiet environment.
The entire rest area was like a hotel room.
A long corridor with rooms on both sides. As Suker passed an open door, he saw Ramos lying on the bed, scrolling on his phone.
Suker paused, turned, and walked in.
Ramos heard the sound, turned his head, and saw Suker.
"You came to sleep too?"
Suker nodded, pulled up a chair, sat down, and said to Ramos: "You're not here to sleep, are you?"
"Can't sleep!" Ramos sighed and shook his head: "I was so sleepy just now, but once I lay down, I couldn't sleep. So I'm watching match videos, thinking about how to play tonight!"
Ramos flipped his phone, revealing a Bayern Munich match video.
"Is Ronaldo putting a lot of pressure on you?" Suker asked.
Ramos: "It's false to say there's no pressure. After that guy transformed into a pure striker, he became even more dangerous. I can't let a single ball go, and I mustn't. There can't be any mistakes. That guy is best at seizing opportunities. Once he gets an opportunity in front of goal, his probability of scoring is too high."
"And Mandžukić, that guy is even trickier. He's in the same position as Benzema, but his playing style is completely different. He's completely the one who sacrifices, but having said that, I also need to be wary of his attacking ability. After all, standing in the center-forward position, he's said to be a pivot, but who can completely give up attacking?"
Suker nodded: "Mario should still be starting this match!"
Ramos grinned: "That Pole is also very annoying, not to mention there's a bunch of headache-inducing guys on the bench."
At this point, he suddenly asked: "Do you think Götze will play?"
Suker thought for a moment: "It depends on the situation. Don't forget, they also have Alonso!"
"Oh right! That guy too!" Ramos shook his head: "He just recovered from injury; can he make a comeback in this match?"
"He will definitely play. His role is better than Schweinsteiger's."
Ramos: "I wonder what tactical approach they'll use for this match."
Suker: "Don't think too much. Anyway, for this match, we just need to play our own rhythm."
"Do you think the boss is hiding some trick?" Ramos asked hopefully.
Suker shook his head: "Probably not. If there was, we would have practiced it already. We've done everything that needs to be done. We secured a victory away, so at home, we'll play at a normal rhythm. In fact, this is the most suitable style for us!"
Ramos: "Bayern Munich might also come up with a new approach. After all, it's an away match; without something new, it will be difficult for them to win."
"That's not something we need to worry about." Suker stood up, pointed outside, and said: "I'm going to take a nap to conserve energy for tonight's match."
Ramos wanted to chat a bit longer, but seeing Suker's demeanor, he could only nod.
Suker didn't say much more, simply turned and left, found a room, went in, and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
This nap lasted about an hour.
Suker was woken up by his alarm. He had set it, not daring to sleep too much, as too much sleep could make him lose form.
An hour-long nap was just right.
He went to the bathroom, simply washed his face with cold water, and instantly felt refreshed.
When Suker returned to the locker room, he found that his teammates had already finished their afternoon training and were starting to organize their equipment.
Suker immediately joined them.
Night fell, and scattered starlight shone down.
The area around Bernabéu Stadium was lit up, and the gathering of large crowds created a buzzing atmosphere, rising high.
The streets and squares were filled with people.
Both sides were extremely focused on this match.
Especially for Bayern Munich, this could be considered their do-or-die battle.
Win, and the Champions League journey continues!
Lose, and they face elimination!
When both team buses arrived at the stadium, they caused a commotion and excitement.
The crowd erupted in waves of cheers at this moment, and the atmosphere gradually reached a climax.
However, the players from both sides entered quietly, without much interaction with the fans.
But the fans understood; with such a crucial match ahead, these players wouldn't be relaxed.
"Change and warm up. Logistics personnel, move the supplies to the coaching bench. Substitute players warm up on your own. Starting players, follow Zidane for warm-up activities. The tactics have already been explained to you in advance, so I won't emphasize them further here. But I tell you, believe in yourselves, we are Real Madrid, and we will definitely win the match!"
Under Ancelotti's loud encouragement, the players walked out of the player tunnel to warm up.
On the other side, Bayern Munich was also warming up.
Guardiola looked at Real Madrid's half of the field, his expression slightly serious.
"Are we being too risky?" the Assistant Coach asked with some apprehension.
"Victory is found in risk!" Guardiola turned his head: "In a normal matchup, we are already behind, and we are at the opponent's home. Is our chance to win high?"
The Assistant Coach fell silent.
Both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were teams that were very good at pushing a favorable situation. When leading, playing the match step by step, they knew very well how to secure a victory.
Therefore, at this time, some changes and tactics were needed.
Ancelotti had outsmarted them in the last match!
And now it was their turn for this match!
Don't think that only Real Madrid had tactical reserves; they had them too.
Of course, this tactic wasn't particularly mature.
But Ancelotti dared to bring out an immature tactic, and he also had the courage to burn his bridges!