Atletico Madrid still alive in battle against Real Madrid and history

MADRID – Atletico Madrid stare down bitter city rivals Real Madrid and the weight of history as they aim to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on March 12.

Los Blancos are the record 15-time champions, the holders, and lead Atletico 2-1 in the last-16 tie as well as seemingly holding a decades-long jinx on Los Rojiblancos.

The teams have been paired on five occasions in the competition and Real have emerged triumphant every time.

“History exists, and Madrid’s history in the Champions League is extraordinary,” admitted Atletico coach Diego Simeone, with his side still waiting for a first European Cup.

Most painful for Atletico were the 2014 and 2016 final defeats.

Simeone’s side led in stoppage time in 2014, but Sergio Ramos’ 93rd-minute header forced extra time, with Real then running out 4-1 winners.

Two years later, the final went all the way to penalties but Atletico defender Juanfran missed his spot kick, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to convert his and chalk up another Real triumph.

It was their third defeat at the last hurdle, after losing to Bayern Munich in the 1974 final, with then president Vicente Calderon labelling his club “El pupas” – the jinxed one.

Never does that feel more accurate than when Simeone’s side face Real in Europe. In the 2017 semi-finals, Atletico lost 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg, but despite taking a two-goal lead in the return, came up short when Isco pulled one back for Real.

In 2015, it took an 88th-minute strike in the second leg by Real striker Javier Hernandez to separate the sides in a tight contest.

Real’s upper hand was first placed as far back as 1959, when they beat Atletico 2-1 in a semi-final play-off, after the home and away ties left the teams level.

However,