Saturday, May 28, 2016

The Latest: Real Madrid fans support team from afar


FINAL | Real Madrid - Atlético de Madrid | FUT DRAFT CHALLENGE !!

MILAN (AP) The Latest on the Champions League final (all times local):

Once again a Champions League final between the two teams could be heading into extra time as Atletico equalizes with 11 minutes remaining.

Halftime substitute Yannick Carrasco turned home Juanfran"s cross from close range to send the Atletico fans wild.

Real Madrid could have killed off the match moments earlier as Gareth Bale"s effort was cleared off the line, moments after Cristiano Ronaldo had two attempts saved.

Karim Benzema was also denied by Jan Oblak, with Ronaldo unmarked in the center of the penalty area.

Nearly 60,000 Real Madrid fans are in their home stadium in the Spanish capital watching their team play in the Champions League final.

Despite steady rain during most of the match, fans packed much of the 81,000-capacity stadium to watch the final against crosstown rival Atletico Madrid.

Four huge video screens were placed at midfield so fans could get an up-close view of the game in Milan.

Before the match started at the San Siro, the crowd in Spain sang the team"s anthem and loudly chanted as each player"s name appeared on the big screens.

The club said the exact attendance would be announced later Saturday.

Fernando Torres, who was poor in the first half, won a penalty for Atletico after he was barged over by Pepe soon after the game re-started.

However, Antoine Griezmann squandered Atletico"s chance to level as he smashed his effort onto the crossbar, much to the despair of his team"s own supporters packed behind that goal.

Griezmann is the first player to miss a penalty in the Champions League final since Arjen Robben in 2012.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas was booked for delaying the penalty before Griezmann stepped up.

Atletico Madrid has got more into the game as the match has progressed but Real Madrid still deservedly lead 1-0 at halftime.

Real Madrid dominated the opening stages but Atletico are now edging possession and have also had more shots on target three to Madrid"s two.

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak was called into action early on, blocking the ball from point-blank range after a free kick was deflected toward goal by Karim Benzema and Casemiro.

Antoine Griezmann had Atletico"s best chance of the match three minutes from the break when his effort flew just past the left post.

It was Griezmann"s third shot in seven minutes.

Cristiano Ronaldo is bidding to break his own record of Champions League goals scored in a season but it appears to be Gareth Bale"s night instead.

The Wales international won the free kick which led to the opening goal, and headed it on for Sergio Ramos to bundle in.

It is a nightmare night for Atletico forward Fernando Torres, who has only had 10 touches in the first 45 minutes and has completed none of his five passes so far.

Sergio Ramos, whose stoppage-time leveler took the 2014 final to extra time, has put Real Madrid 1-0 up after 15 minutes.

The Real Madrid captain was on hand to bundle in after Gareth Bale flicked on Toni Kroos" free kick.

The Champions League final has kicked off four minutes late.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is headlining the first-ever live music performance for the opening ceremony.

There are also more than 300 volunteer performers, 12 professional dancers and 100 people who bring in and take away the props in a glitzy 9-minute act.

Andrea Bocelli will sing the Champions League anthem.

The world-famous Italian tenor, who supports Inter Milan, sang at Leicester"s stadium earlier this month before the team was presented with the Premier League trophy.

Both teams are unchanged from their last league fixtures.

Real Madrid: Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema. Subs: Kiko Casilla, Nacho, James Rodriguez, Lucas Vazquez, Jese, Isco, Danilo.

Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak, Filipe Luis, Diego Godin, Stefan Savic, Juanfran, Gabi, Augusto Fernandez, Koke, Saul Niguez, Fernando Torres, Antoine Griezmann. Subs: Miguel Angel Moya, Tiago, Angel Correa, Lucas Hernandez, Yannick Carrasco, Thomas Partey, Jose Maria Gimenez.

Both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have arrived at the San Siro ahead of the Champions League final.

Atletico which lost to its city rival in the 2014 final is looking for revenge and a first title, while Madrid is bidding to win the tournament for the 11th time.

The pitch is getting a final watering ahead of kickoff at 2045.

The trophy was dropped off earlier following a police escort from Milan"s center, where it had been on display outside the city"s famous cathedral.

There was a friendly atmosphere between both sets of fans in the center and outside the stadium, with supporters in high spirits and happy to pose for pictures with each other.

Copyright 2016 TheAssociated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2016-05-28/the-latest-champs-lg-final-madrid-atletico-resume-rivalry

No comments:

Post a Comment