Full-time: Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid (agg: 1-0)
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeep! Real Madrid notch up their first win in eight attempts this season to see off Atletico Madrid and book a place in the Champions League semi-finals. Javier Hernandez scored the winning goal in a contest that was often scrappy and bad-tempered, but entertaining nonetheless.
90+5 min: Koke gets booked for a foul on Carjaval.
90+3 min: Real substitution: Illaramendi on for Isco. We’re three minutes into five minutes of added time. Arbeloa gets booked for something or other.
90+2 min: There’s a long break in play as Hernandes goes down with cramp and Real make a double substitution: Arbeloa and Jese for Hernandez and Contrao.
89 min: Raul garcia tries his luck from distance; over the bar. That was a fine goal from Real. Ronaldo and James Rodriguez combined to great effect on the fringes of the Atletico penalty area, with the Portuguese playing a give-and-go to the Colombian, picking up the return pass on the right side of the area and squaring for Hernandez when he could conceivably have shot under pressure from several markers himself.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Atletico Madrid (agg: 1-0) (Hernandez 87)
Real Madrid take the lead, with Ronaldo selflessly eschewing a scoring opportunity to tee up Javier Hernandez for a tap-in. Real lead in the dying stages of the second leg.
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85 min: Atletico substitution: Tiago off, Jose Maria Gimenez on. Atletico bring on a third central defender.
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83 min: Pepe heads wide from a corner. The ball goes out off Juanfran’s outstretched leg, but the referee awards a goal-kick.
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80 min: Hernandez misses another great chance, shaking off a challenge to burst into the Atletico penalty area and latch onto a beautifully weighted ball in between defenders from James. Oblak comes out to narrow the angle and divert his low diagonal drive out for a corner. Great goalkeeping, but Hernadez should have given him no chance.
79 min: Good work down the right from Sergio Ramos, but his pull-back to the edge of the penalty area is intercepted.
78 min: Turan took a good two minutes to dawdle off the field there. He’s been spiky and petulant throughout; one of the more bad-tempered players in a bad-tempered game. It’s no huge surprise to see him get his marching orders.
Red card! Atletico Madrid are down to 10 men
Atletico’s Turkish midfielder Arda Turan picks up his second booking for a slightly late challenge on Sergio Ramos as the pair contested a 50-50 ball. Needless to say, Sergio milked the situation for all it was worth, but I think it was probably the correct decision. It was a silly challenge, considering he was already on a yellow card.
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74 min: Pepe picks up his yellow card for a shove on Raul Garcia, who is also booked for swishing his boot in the direction of Varane.
72 min: Varane clears with a pair of meaty headers as various Atlico players attempt to pick out Mario Mandzukic in the Real penalty area.
69 min: Chances at either end: Cristiano Ronaldo has a pop from distance, but his dipping effort is dealt with comfortably by Oblak. Moments previously, Koke headed straight at Casillas after being picked out by a nice Arda cross from the right.
68 min: Free-kick for Atletico, just inside theReal half. Thiago plays it short to Juanfran, it’s hoofed forward and Pepe clears for a throw-in.
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67 min: Ronaldo pounces on a breaking ball that spins like a Shane Warne leg-break on the edge of the Atletico penalty area. He fails to make clean contact, but sends it goalwards nonetheless, injuring his knee in the process. It doesn’t look too serious.
64 min: A fine player he may be, but Antoine Griezmann has had a fairly quiet night by his own high standards tonight. He’s worked hard, but achieved little on this occasion. Raul Garcia takes his place and Griezmann looks decidedly unimpressed.
64 min: Raul Garcia is about to come on for Atletico. He’s been about to come for them for at least three minutes.
62 min: Ronaldo warps his boot around the ball on the left flank, whipping in a fine cross. Sergio Ramos leaps highest, but is leaning backwards when he makes contact, making Jan Oblak’s job easier.
59 min: Atletico advance into Real territory, with Griezmann sending a cross in to the penalty area. Casillas dithers over whether to come for the ball or not, forcing Raphael Varane to take charge and put the ball out for a corner. From that, Atletico win another and Real win a free-kick for ... actually, I have no idea what they got the free-kick for. I’m not sure the referee does either.
57 min: A scrappy, stop-start few minutes where, like in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot, nothing has happened on more than one occasion. It’s been a while since I’ve featured in Pseuds Corner.
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54 min: Javier Hernandez leaps to try to head a cross from deep goalwards. Miranda leaps and clatters into him in mid-air, prompting loud appeals for a penalty. None is forthcoming. That’s two spot-kicks Hernandez should have had; one either side of the interval.
52 min: This half has begun much like the first, with Atletico penned inside their own half doing a lot of defend. They’re famously parsimonious and seem to be coping OK.
49 min: Isco advances on the Atletico penalty area and is given the fredom of the Bernabeu to continue his run as the opposition defender backpedal. Eventually he tries a shot, but his effort his blocked. Corner for Real.
48 min: Javier Hernandez misses a great chance, after latching on to a beautifully weighted defence-splitting pass from Isco and shooting inches widfe of the far post with a diagonal effort from about seven yards out. He’s furious and so is James Rodriguez, who was screaming for the Mexican to square the ball.
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47 min: Real win a throw-in deep in Atletico territory. Nothing comes of it, but they retain possession and continue pinging the ball inside the Atletico Madrid half.
Second half is under way in Madrid
Real get the ball rolling, with Gabi on for Saul Niguez in the Atletico ranks. He takes the captain’s armband from Hulk Godin.
My word. Looking at it again, that foul by Godin was really quite something. He didn’t leap in the air, just ran towards Hernandez, grabbed his chest with both hands and send him flying with a mighty shove. It was like something you’d see in a wrestling ring a rugby line-out.
Real Madrid should have had a penalty. I’ve just seen a replay of the very last corner moments before the referee blew for half-time. As the ball came in, Javier Hernandez leapt for it, only to be cleaned out by Diego Godin, who gave the Mexican an almighty shove with both hands as he hovered in mid air, while goalkeeper shoved him in the face for good measure. The outcome? Hernandez got penalised for infringement. That’s magnificent.
Here you go. You can pretend you thought this up yourself and drop it into casual pub conversation in a bid to impress your mates.
This game shows why you need good ball-playing defenders as Varane/Pepe have so much time. They should come forward more and Ramos can drop
— Michael Cox (@Zonal_Marking) April 22, 2015
Half-time: Real Madrid 0-0 Atletico Madrid (agg: 0-0)
It remains all square at the Bernabeu, where Real Madrid have just squandered a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead. They’ve had the better of the play in an often scrappy first half that was low on decent chances. If it stays like this we’ll have extra time and, in the event of further deadlock, penalties.
43 min: The best chance of the half falls to Ronaldo after Mandzukic gifted possession to Carvajal on the edge of the penalty area. The ball was slipped through to Ronaldo, who only had Oblak to beat in a one-on-one, but the keeper was equal to the task and got down well to save anbd put the ball out for a corner. Ronaldo is disgusted with himself.
42 min: Ronaldo sends a cross in from the right and Jaunfran puts it out for a corner. Ronaldo is not best pleased there was nobody in a white shirt on hand to convert his fine delivery and it must be said, he has a point. Nothing comes of the corner.
48 min: It’s very scrappy at the moment, with free-kick after free-kick after free-kick. Sergio Ramos and Saul Nguez are the latest to incur the referee’s wrath after a foul by the latter on the former leads to a frank exchange of views between the pair. Needless to say, referee’s assistant Pepe is also in the thick of the action, helpfully telling the official how to do his job.
37 min: Good claim by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, as the ball is whipped in from the flank after Hernandez is bodychecked by Miranda to win a free-kick.
33 min: There’s been a lot of needle in this match so far and no little play-acting either. Thus far, the oscar goes to Isco, who flung himself to the ground holding his face after not getting hit in the face Tiago a couple of minutes ago.
31 min: Turan gets booked for tripping toni Kroos, gifting Real Madrid a free-kick a fair distance from goal. ronaldo’s effort bounces in front of the goalkeeper, who puts it out for a corner. From that Real get another one, before Atletico eventually clear their lines.
30 min: James Rodriguez crosses into the Ateltico penalty area from the right and Hernandez gets on the end of his delivery. His header is clean, but the ball goes wide.
28 min: Casillas makes the first proper save, getting down to his left to stop and hold a low Jesus Gamez drive from about 25 yards. The left-back caught - I think - Isco napping in front of his own penalty area, robbing him of possession.
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26 min: Rodriguez takes the free-kick, but fails to find the top right-hand corner. The ball fizzes over defensive wall and cross-bar.
26 min: More niggle as Ronaldo wins a free-kick from Gamez two yards outside the Atleti penalty area,, right-hand side. This is perfect for a left-footer like Rodriguez, if Ronaldo lets him take it.
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24 min: Carvajal is alive to the danger of a darting Koke run and clears when Jesus Gamez tries to pick him out in the Real penalty area. Atletico win another throw-in deep in Real territory, but nothing comes of it.
22 min: Atletico are starting to find their rhythm having been dominated in the opening 15 minutes. Their players are looking more comfortable on the ball and starting to string a few passes together.
21 min: Corner for Atletico, which is sent towards the near post and cleared, by one of many, many bodies surrounding Iker Casillas.
17 min: Fabio Contrao sends in a fine cross from the left flank and Sergio Ramos attacks it on the edge of the six-yard box. Diego Godin leaps with him, preventing the Real man from repeating his late heroics in last years final.
15 min: Pepe leaves his foot in on Arda Turan, prompting the Turkish winger to give him the stink eye. Referee Felix Brych tells Turan to cool his jets and Atletico have a throw-in level with the edge of the Real penalty area. It’s taken long; Delapped to the near post and only half cleared. It drops for Koke who tries a spectacular volley from the edge of the penalty area. High and wide.
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14 min: Almost relentless Real Madrid pressure; this time Ronaldo capitalises on a defensive error to drag a long-range effort wide from about 25 yards.
13 min: James Rodriguez plays the ball down the inside right channel, picking out Javier Hernandez. Eschewing the option to pull it back to one of two team-mates lurking around the fringes of the penalty area, he shoots into the side-netting from a tight angle instead.
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11 min: Arda Turan fouls Ronaldo in the centre-circle and from the ensuing free-kick Real get the ball forward. Right-back Dani Carvajal gets the cross in for Javier Hernandez, who did well to get across his man, but can’t get a shot on target.
10 min: The ambitious Cristiano Ronaldo shoots from distance, but the diligent Arda Turan was tracking him and blocks the effort.
9 min: Gamez attempts to pick out Griezmann with a ball over the top of Madrid’s high line, but Raphael Varane tidies up and sends Madrid on their way once again.
8 min: James wins another free-kick for Real on the touchline after being fouled by Gamez. Real continue to dominate possession but we’ve had nothing in the way of chances so far.
5 min: Now Ramos goes to ground under a challenge from Saul Nguez in a most theatrical fashion, clutching his face and rolling around in agony. He’s awarded a free-kick, gets to feet and trots away rubbing his face with his sleeve.
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4 min: Jesus Gamez appears to foul Javier Hernandez in the Atletico left-back position and the Mexican goes to ground, loudly appealing for a free-kick. Referee Felix Brych awards the free-kick to Gamez and Atletico.
3 min: Real Madrid are bossing proceedings early doors, dominating possession, moving the ball about efficiently and quickly.
2 min: Toni Kroos takes the first shot in anger, which is a wild slash from distance that sails high and wide of Jan Oblak’s goal.
1 min: Pepe has lined up in the heart of Madrid’s defence, with Sergio Ramosin midfield, proving what I think we’ve all secretly suspected for a long time: Sid Lowe, whose recent tweet I posted below, is a charlatan who knows nothing about Spanish football.
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid is under way
1 min: Atletico Madrid get the ball rolling with Javier Hernandez still on his knees to the right of the centre-circle having a quick last-minute pray.
Not long now: The teams march out of the tunnel led by captains Iker Casillas and Diego Godin, under the “Road to Berlin arch” and line up for the Champions League anthem. Kick off is just a couple of minutes away.
Pretty much everyone seems to think it's Ramos in midfield. I'm not so sure...
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) April 22, 2015
Sky Sports are broadcasting this in Blighty tonight. Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and Graeme Souness are the pundits, with Jeff Stelling asking the tough questions. Thierry Henry has just desribed Atletico as playing in the Argentinian style, pointing out that they’re “a little bit dirty”. He cites their belief as one of their main strong points. Souness reckons they they’re not as good as Real Madrid, but says their determination and work ethic stands to their credit. He also praises the way they’ve managed to replace the players they lost last summers with like for like signings: Mandzukic for Costa, Oblak for Courtois etc.
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Disciplinary Tightrope Dept: For Atletico, Jesus Gamez, Gabi, Raul Garcia and Fernando Torres are all one booking away from a suspension, while Real players Toni Kroos, Fabio Coentrao and - surprise, surprise - Sergio Ramos are all one lunge away from a spell on the naughty step.
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Corrections and clarifications department: It appears that Sergio Ramos will be starting in midfield for Real Madrid, on the left of a three. I seem to recall Carlo Ancelloti playing him there in a match against Barcelona last season and, after hooking him shortly after half-time, admitting that it was his biggest mistake as a manager.
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid line-ups
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao, Rodriguez, Pepe, Kroos, Isco, Hernandez, Ronaldo.
Subs: Navas, Khedira, Lucas Silva, Arbeloa, Nacho, Jese, Illarramendi.
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Jesus Gamez, Turan, Tiago, Koke, Saul, Mandzukic, Griezmann.
Subs: Moya, Siqueira, Raul Garcia, Jimenez, Gabi, Torres, Gimenez.
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany)
Some early team news: In what appears to be a demonstration of his complete lack of faith in midfielders Asier Illarramendi, Lucas Silva and Sami Khedira, word is filtering out of the Bernabeu that Carlo Ancelotti has named Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Rafael Varane in his line-up. Pepe looks likely to fill in for Luka Modrić in midfield. Further up the pitch, Javier Hernández starts as a striker in place of the injured Karim Benzema.
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After last week’s stalemate at the Estadio Vicente Calderón, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid meet again in a repeat of last season’s Champions League final. Having lost so cruelly in last season’s denouement, Atlético are since unbeaten against their City rivals since, winning four of the seven (seven!) matches they’ve played so far this season. Real go into tonight’s match as favourites, but will be missing key players such as striker Karim Benzema, winger Gareth Bale and midfielder Luka Modric, while full-back Marcelo also misses out through suspension. By contrast, Atléti’s only conspicuous absentee is the suspended midfielder Mario Suarez.
A man who has forgotten more about Spanish football than most mere mortals will ever know, Sid Lowe has written an indepth preview focussing on the potential ramifications for Real Madrid lining up without the influential Modric, while you can see and hear the views of Sid and assorted Spanish colleagues of his in our video about the revitalised rivalry between Real and Atlético.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm BST, but we’ll have team news and build-up an hour before that.
