From 1959 European Cup semis to 2014 Champions League final: Five best ever Madrid derbies

Madrid, Spain:  Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid clash in the Champions League final for the second time in three years in Milan on Saturday.

We select five of the best Madrid derbies of all time between the first two sides ever to compete a Champions League final from the same city: Real Madrid 2 Atlético Madrid 1, European Cup semi-final, May 13, 1959 [caption id=“attachment_2803016” align=“aligncenter” width=“825”] Atletico vs Real Madrid, European Cup semi-final, 1959. Image courtesy: atleticofans.com[/caption] Three matches were needed to decide the first meeting between the sides in European competition in the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1959. Real won the first leg 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu before Atlético levelled the tie two weeks later with a 1-0 victory. In the days before the away goals rule, Real won a play-off held in Zaragoza 2-1 thanks to goals from the legendary Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas on their way to winning the competition for a fourth consecutive season.

Real Madrid 1 Atlético Madrid 3, La Liga, October 30, 1999 [caption id=“attachment_2803036” align=“aligncenter” width=“825”] Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink score a brace in Atletico win at the Santiago Bernabue. Getty[/caption] In what was to become the worst season in Atlético’s history as they were relegated from the top flight, there was one moment of glory for Los Rojiblancos as one of just nine league victories that season came at the Bernabeu thanks to two goals from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and another from Jose Mari after Fernando Morientes’ opener for Real.

Real Madrid 1 Atlético Madrid 2 (after extra-time), Copa del Rey final, May 17, 2013 [caption id=“attachment_2803040” align=“aligncenter” width=“825”] Atletico Madrid came from behind to win the 2013 Copa del Rey at the Bernabue. Getty[/caption] It took another 14 years and 25 derbies for Atlético to taste victory over Real, but they ended that painful run in style by winning the Copa del Rey on Real’s patch at the Bernabeu. Atlético were forced to come from behind as Cristiano Ronaldo headed Real in front, but Diego Costa quickly levelled and Miranda handed Atlético a 10th Cup win when he glanced home Koke’s cross in extra time.

Real Madrid 4 Atlético Madrid 1 (after extra-time), Champions League final, May 24, 2014 [caption id=“attachment_2803044” align=“aligncenter” width=“825”] Sergio Ramos headed home to equalise late for Real Madrid at the 2014 Champions League final. Getty[/caption] Atlético were denied their first ever Champions League in agonising circumstances as Sergio Ramos rose highest to power home an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time after Diego Godin had given Atlético a first-half lead. Real then ran riot in extra-time with Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo all netting to deliver Los Blancos’ long-awaited 10th European Cup.

Real Madrid 1 Atlético Madrid 0, Champions League quarter-final, second leg, April 22, 2015 [caption id=“attachment_2803052” align=“aligncenter” width=“825”] Javier Hernandez’s solitary goal minutes from full-time knocked out Atletico. Getty[/caption] Less than a year on from the Lisbon final, Real got the upper hand in Europe once more as they snapped a seven-game winless streak against Atlético thanks to Javier Hernandez’s goal a minute from time to seal a 1-0 aggregate win after Arda Turan’s red card had left Atlético down to 10 men.