Real Madrid edge out unfortunate Atletico Madrid once again

Real Madrid won their 11th Champions League title in 2015-16 by defeating perennial city rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw.

The San Siro was the venue that witnessed Sergio Ramos opening the scoring early on, before Yannick Carrasco netted from close range, but only after Antoine Griezmann had missed a penalty for Atleti. When spot kicks arrived, it was Cristiano Ronaldo and Real who held their nerve to deny Atletico in cruel fashion for the second time in three seasons.

CHANGES

For the first time ever, the winners of the previous season’s UEFA Europa League were awarded automatic qualification into the group stage of the Champions League the following campaign. Sevilla earned this right after winning the title for the second consecutive season, and as a result, Spain had five participants in the group stage – a first for any country.

During the summer, Manchester City spent heavily again; £64m on Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg, whilst also acquiring Raheem Sterling from Liverpool for £50m and Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia for £40m. Real Madrid, meanwhile, strengthened with the likes of Danilo, Mateo Kovacic, and Marco Asensio, who returned from a loan spell at Espanyol. Rafa Benitez started the campaign in charge of Los Blancos, but would eventually be replaced by Zinedine Zidane, who would lead the capital club to the trophy in his first half-season in charge.

SUMMARY

Barcelona, impeccable the season prior, started the defence of their title with a stutter, drawing 1-1 at Roma, but they would respond to finish top of their section as one of only two sides not to lose a match. The other, Real Madrid, were emphatic in their destruction of Swedish side Malmo, obliterating them 8-0 at Santiago Bernabeu.

Shocks at the group stage have become less common as the years have progressed, but Manchester United’s failure to extricate themselves from a group containing Wolfsburg, PSV, and CSKA Moscow was a massive disappointment for Louis van…

Source link : https://www.footballcritic.com/season-reviews/real-madrid-edge-out-unfortunate-atletico-madrid-once-again-champions-league-2015-16/30

Author : [email protected] (Martin Macdonald)

Publish date : 2024-07-21 14:00:00

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