today's the day

the day when my brothers and I will get into a mad punch up after the match

peks!
I've been nervous all week!

Hope Casillas continues to be our talisman. Atleti still haven't won a match against him in 26 attempts, and he hasn't lost (or even conceded a single goal) in any major final for Madrid or Spain since the 2000 Intercontinental Cup final.

Something else I hadn't realised. If Atleti win, Simeone would become only the 3rd South American manager to win the European Cup, and first since Helenio Herrera 50 years ago.

Ancelotti on his part would become just the second manager ever to win it 3 times.

i'm worried about Illarra

i hope the atleti midfield dont eat him alive

Would Khedira start tonight?

>>>>>>> Khedira
>>>>>Modric Di Maria
Bale >>>>>>>>>>>>Ronaldo
>>>>>> Benzema

is alonso out?

Yea suspended

No way will Khedira start after such a long time out.

I don't think any of our possible midfield combinations would be enough to control the centre of the pitch against Atleti. Our best chance is to try to break them down the wings.

It's gonna be interesting to see how we set up. Not only is Alonso out, I have the feeling Benzema won't play either. He hasn't trained all week.

That means Ancelotti could choose to start Morata - very, very unlikely - use Isco as a false 9, or shift one of Bale or Ronaldo to the centre and have Di María out on the wing. The shape and personnel we choose in attack would also affect how we set up in midfield.

It's really complicated and I still have no idea what to expect.

With Atleti it's not so hard. Even if, as presumed, Costa's out, they have a very well defined playing style and won't need to change much.

Pepe's almost certainly out too. I guess that's karma for you. A player who's brought so much shame upon the shirt really doesn't deserve to be donning it in a CL final.

Added problem with Alonso and Benzema out is that, whether it's from deep or advanced positions, they are precisely the two players we rely most on to recycle the ball out to the wide areas; this is going to put a lot more pressure on Modric to perform, but also makes him a much clearer focal point for Atleti's midfield. Perhaps Ramos' long passing could play a role, but it cannot compare to Alonso's; up front it seems Isco would be the player best suited to link our play up.

Don't think ja606 has had a single CL final thread yesterday or so far today. Who's gonna be first?

Big fan of isco

Hi guys

I am a bit confused. I want to support Atleti for the fact that it would be amazing for them to do it but I also want Madrid to win for the sake of the guys here.

Come on Atleti, smash the Madridistas!

Wumpatrol, for the good of Football, Atleti few

It's not Madrid is another soulless sugar daddy club is it? Both sides winning it would be for the good of football imo but Atleti winning would be a great motivation for teams with low budgets that they can also do it.

I see how much ioag is driving himself crazy with the different permutations of team selection and formations. Hope he has gone to the beach or something to get his mind off the game. You can't stay like that for the whole game.

I'm here, in nervous anticipation. But I'm simply really, really looking forward to this match like no other in years. I won't be too upset if Atleti win; I'm a Madrid fan of course, but a footy fan too, and as such a part of me will be sad if Atlético don't pull off the second part of this miracle year.

As to who to support Wump, why not just settle for whoever has the best fans?

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/may/23/madrid-real-atletico-champions-league-final-lisbon

I don't care for pejoratives 'soulless sugar daddy club' especially when RM are hardly paragons of virtue. Besides, that is another argument entirely.

If Simeone achieves this, it would arguably be the biggest managerial achievement in a generation.

I have been watching re-runs of the past champions league finals and after watching the final in 2011, I have to say that anyone who thinks that Tiki-Taka footie is boring needs to watch that game and rethink. That was one of the greatest final performances I have ever seen! As an attacking tactic, tiki taka footie is just amazing to watch. It only gets boring when facing teams that defend deep and try to get the tiki taka playing team on the counter so tiki taka is used as a way for damage limitation and denying the opposing team the ball. More like defending with the ball.

Team Gaz tonight

"If Simeone achieves this, it would arguably be the biggest managerial achievement in a generation."

I disagree! It would be the biggest managerial achievement for generations not just a generation, certainly in my short lifetime.

Always been that way Wump. The way they demolished Lyon, Bayern & Madrid in 09 was simply jaw-dropping.

Watched a re-run on Spanish TV last night of the 02 final, followed by a summary of the 56-60 and 66 title runs, a short programme on the Mijatovic goal in '98 and a brief summary of the '00 final.

In short, every single one of Real Madrid's and Atletico's European Cup-winning seasons.

comment by ☺ Wumpatröl - We are going to Wembley, We are going to Wembley (U5046)
posted 1 minute ago
"If Simeone achieves this, it would arguably be the biggest managerial achievement in a generation."

I disagree! It would be the biggest managerial achievement for generations not just a generation, certainly in my short lifetime.
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Well, we can all agree it certainly will be up there.

Though, i am still one of those anachronistic chaps that believes triumphing in International football is harder than club football.

radio marca madrid is on my laptop...and it wint be going off until late tonight

the A5 motorway will be like the cannonball run today

casillas, varane, ramos, marcelo, carvajal, illarra, modric, di maria, bale, ronaldo, isco....thats how i think madrid will start today

Though, i am still one of those anachronistic chaps that believes triumphing in International football is harder than club football.
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Greece, Denmark? I'd be tempted to say Italy in '82. Bigger stage, bigger opponents, perfect execution (discounting the first group round that is ).

comment by itsonlyagame - red cards are unfair (U6426)
posted 18 minutes ago
Always been that way Wump. The way they demolished Lyon, Bayern & Madrid in 09 was simply jaw-dropping.

Watched a re-run on Spanish TV last night of the 02 final, followed by a summary of the 56-60 and 66 title runs, a short programme on the Mijatovic goal in '98 and a brief summary of the '00 final.

In short, every single one of Real Madrid's and Atletico's European Cup-winning seasons.
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What about the 5-0 mauling at Camp Nou in 2010? That was even a better perfomance than the 6-2. It is actually the greatest match I have ever watched! Barca were toying with Madrid and it looked like they could score whenever they want! What about the last Euro finals between Spain and Italy? Absolutely breathtaking!