Beating Atletico Was Real Madrid's Toughest Task in Retaining Champions League

A late Javier Hernandez goal put Real Madrid through to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals yet again on Wednesday night, knocking out last year's beaten finalists and keeping Real's hopes of retaining the trophy alive.

Neither side had managed to score 177 minutes into the two-legged tie, and it looked certain to head into extra time. But the late strike was enough to knock out 10-man Atletico, players who have been almost impossible for Real to beat this season.

Indeed, despite the quality on show in the rest of the competition, it's not outlandish to claim Atleti as the toughest opponent for Real to get past in their quest to retain the Champions League trophy.

One out of Eight

Draw, defeat, defeat, defeat, draw, defeat, draw.

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Simeone vs. Ancelotti Last 7 Matches pic.twitter.com/iffV69UT9Y

— LaLiga_Talkzone (@LaLiga_Talkzone) April 22, 2015"

So had gone the seven matches this season for Real against their neighbours, a terrible run of form for Carlo Ancelotti against an adversary very different to him in pitchside manner as much as in on-field tactics, Diego Simeone.

Super Cup, Copa del Rey and Liga matches had all gone the way of Atleti one way or another—by progression, frustration, points or even panache in the 4-0 thumping back in February. By the time this Champions League second leg came around, there was very much a mental issue surrounding Real's ability to overcome their rivals as much as a tactical one.

Paul White/Associated Press

Real knew how Atleti would approach the game—they knew what would be required—and still almost failed to find a way past them in 90 minutes. They did, though, and how it happened is almost irrelevant. It's a first win in eight attempts this year, and it's when it mattered most.

Man for man, a case can be made for Real beating any of the other semifinalists, and the same can be said in reverse. They will all be tight. But Atleti vs. Real was as much about Simeone vs. Ancelotti and the strange stranglehold the Argentine had on matters.

Hurdles Remain

Having reached the last four, Real Madrid will still need to overcome two of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus to become the first side to retain the Champions League in its current format.

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Juventus this year's guest on the Barcelona/Real/Bayern annual semi-final party. pic.twitter.com/pUWuELIMNR

— Michiel Jongsma (@JongsmaJongsma) April 22, 2015"

No matter which opponent Real come up against in the last four, they'll face tremendously tough two legs, of course. Juventus will no doubt be the side everyone else hopes to get—on account of their recent European history not being as impressive as the other three sides' histories—but certainly, a Real-Barça or Real-Bayern tie could go either way.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

The big difference in Real playing any of these three teams and playing against Atletico is that they have the capacity to triumph on the basis of their star quality and footballing ability. Against Atletico, the mental aspect of the showdown and the need to battle, to fight and to be patient had become even more important than actual technique and scoring ability.

Real will have to play at least one of Bayern and Barcelona, and maybe both, if they want to lift their 11th European title. When it comes to those games, it will be a case of both sides going for the victory. And in those instances, Ancelotti would back his own tactical acumen, allied to his players' match-winning qualities, to triumph.

It might happen, and it might not, but it's at least the type of tie Real will believe they can progress in with less stress and struggle to break down their opponent than their stubborn and aggressive city rivals.

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