Having barely had time to digest their narrow win over Manuel
Pellegrini's side, Real's euphoric fans gleefully recalled that late
show in Lisbon, chanting: "Atletico, tell me how it felt to lose the
final".
Real braced for tough Atletico sequel in Milan finale(The Star)
As soon as the final whistle confirmed Real Madrid's berth in the Champions League final against local rivals Atletico with a 1-0 aggregate victory over Manchester City on Wednesday, memories of 2014's all-Spanish final came flooding back.
Sergio
Ramos headed in a 93rd-minute equaliser in Lisbon to crush Atletico's
dreams of a first ever continental crown and put Real on their way to a
4-1 extra time victory that sealed 'La Decima', the 10th European Cup
they had coveted for so long.
"It's another
final and it's taken a lot to get there but we've proven we know how to
win it and we're going to try and do it again," Ramos said, looking ahead to the May 28 showdown in Milan.
Having
barely had time to digest their narrow win over Manuel Pellegrini's
side, Real's euphoric fans gleefully recalled that late show in Lisbon,
chanting: "Atletico, tell me how it felt to lose the final".
Gareth
Bale, who forced the Fernando own goal that decided Wednesday's
semi-final tie and who put Madrid 2-1 up against Atletico in Lisbon,
offered a more cautious message.
"It's great to be in the final again but there's another game to go against a very difficult and stubborn Atletico Madrid team," the Welshman said.
"We know it's going to be another difficult game, it always is against them."
Since
breaking Atletico hearts in Lisbon, Real have faced their local rivals
10 times and won just once, Javier Hernandez's late goal knocking Diego
Simeone's side out of the Champions League in last season's
quarter-finals.
Before Simeone took over at
Atletico in 2011, Madrid derbies were regarded as foregone conclusions,
with the Rojiblancos last beating Real in 1999.
Real fans revelled in their neighbours' suffering, producing a banner before one game bearing the message "Wanted: a dignified rival for a decent derby. Apply here".
Guided
by the inspirational Simeone, Atletico broke the stranglehold in the
most fitting of places, the 2013 King's Cup final at the Bernabeu.
Real
have not beaten Atletico in the league since 2013 and were thrashed 4-0
last season at the Vicente Calderon, and lost 1-0 to them at home this
term.
"It's a final, there are no favourites," Cristiano Ronaldo said. "We meet again. A final with Atletico is always special."
Midfielder Luka Modric also expects another tough encounter.
"We played against them two years ago and we remember how difficult it was," the Croatian said.
"We expect the same game and I hope we get the same result."
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