Real Madrid have had a long and frustrating history when it comes to visiting the Stadio San Siro in European competition...and will have to overcome this hoodoo to clinch their 11th Champions League trophy.

It was not the most entertaining of wins or glamorous of wins, but at the end of the day, it really does not matter. Yesterday, Real Madrid were able to book their spot in this season's Champions League finals after narrowly edging out Manchester City 1-0 in the semi-finals second leg.

As such, Zinedine Zidane, in his debut season as a senior manager, now has the opportunity to potentially guide his former side to clinch European club football's most coveted trophy later this month.

However, the venue for this season's final is not one that he himself as a player - and many Real Madrid fans - may remember too fondly. You see, Milan's Stadio San Siro is not a place that has brought good luck for the capital giants. To illustrate further, we will take a quick look back down memory lane, starting from their first arrival in the city now known as Italy's fashion capital 60 years ago.

May 1, 1956 - AC Milan 2-1 Real Madrid

The first of the beginning of many frustrations for Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid at the San Siro. However, a 4-2 in the European Cup semi-finals first leg was enough to see them through 5-4 on aggregate.

February 13, 1964 - AC Milan 2-0 Real Madrid

Nearly eight years later, Real Madrid would be thankful that their 4-1 first leg win was enough to see them through. Milan again tried to rally back by beating them 2-0 at their home ground, but the capital giants held on for a 4-3 aggregate win in the EC quarter-finals.

April 19, 1989 - AC Milan 5-0 Real Madrid

A day to forget if you're an older Real Madrid fan (or to remember if you support the Rossoneri). For those of us who were not born or barely walking yet, this was during the European Cup semi-finals when Milan humiliated Real Madrid at the San Siro en route to winning the trophy. (6-1 aggregate win for the Diavolo).

October 19, 1989 - AC Milan 2-0 Real Madrid

5 months later, another meeting. European Cup, second round. Another defeat for Real Madrid. 2-1 aggregate victory for Milan.

November 26, 2002 - AC Milan 1-0 Real Madrid

By now, the European Cup has been transformed into the Champions League. The Rossoneri edged out Real Madrid at the San Siro, in the group stages, and the two sides draw in their second meeting.

November 3, 2009 - AC Milan 1-1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid end their frustration at San Siro by earning a draw in Champions League group stages after years of disappointment, and the tide would also start to turn in the next season.

November 3, 2010 - AC Milan 2-2 Real Madrid

Exactly one year later, Real Madrid again drew Milan. Furthermore, the Spanish giants beat the Italians 2-0 at the Bernabeu which marked the first time they managed to avoid defeat in any of their two-legged meetings against the Diavolo.

For those of you who did not know - the Stadio San Siro is also known as the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza as both Milan and Inter share it. Here is a summary of Real Madrid's part meetings with the Nerazzurri - and you will also see a very similar pattern of results.


April 20, 1966 - Inter Milan 1- 1 Real Madrid

Real Madrid won the first leg of their European Cup semi-finals tie 1-0, but had to settle for a one-all stalemate at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza a week later.

February 15, 1987 - Inter Milan 1-0 Real Madrid

Simply put, a disappointing European campaign for the Spanish side. After losing the EC quarter-finals first leg in Milan, they were then beaten 2-0 the following month in Madrid.

April 22, 1981 - Inter Milan 1-0 Real Madrid

Fortunately for Real Madrid supporters, the team's 2-0 advantage from the EC semi-finals first leg was enough to nullify Inter's 1-0 win from the second leg.

March 2, 1983 - Inter Milan 1-1 Real Madrid

The Nerazzurri managed a 1-1 draw again in Milan, but Real overpowered them 2-1 in the CWC quarter-finals second leg. Still, it marked the fourth game in which Real still could not score more than one goal on Inter's home turf.

April 10, 1985 - Inter Milan 2-0 Real Madrid

Inter probably thought they were all set after a 2-0 semi-finals first leg in the UEFA Cup (Europa League). However, Real Madrid fought back to launch a 3-0 comeback two weeks later to turn things around. No wonder, then, that they are known as one of the biggest "comeback kings" on the continent...

April 2, 1986 - Inter Milan 3-1 Real Madrid

A year later, same tournament, same juncture..and pretty much same result. Well, almost. The Italians again took a two goal advantage after the first leg to keep their unbeaten record at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza intact.

Unfortunately that did not extend to Madrid. It appears that they also did not learn their lesson from the prior season, either, where they were absolutely crushed in the Spanish capital. If Inter fans thought 3-0 was awful, then 5-1 was something else entirely.

November 25, 1998 - Inter Milan 3-1 Real Madrid

A 3-1 win for the Nerazzurri in the Champions League group stages. 

 

As you can see, 14 prior visits, zero victories. Still, there are a few things to consider.

First of all, whilst their opponent will be quite familiar, it obviously will not be either of the aforementioned two teams. Here's something that really, any football follower should know, but if not, then please recognize the following:

Neither Milan nor Inter even qualified for this term's Champions League, have not done so for the past few terms, and definitely will not be doing so for the 2016/2017 campaign, either.

But one thing anyone cannot dispute is the psychological factor. Arriving at a venue in which a team has never won is certainly no easy thing, and that that definitely will be an extra motivating factor for Zidane.

Unlike before, where these were all two-legged ties - and sometimes gave Real a chance to turn things around (as you saw in several instances versus Inter) - a final is, well, a final. Atletico Madrid, having lost just two years ago will naturally be even that more hyped up to get some serious revenge on their cross-town rivals in what will be a very entertaining Madrid Derby.

So, in their 15th trip to a very familiar ground, will the "curse of San Siro" strike yet again for Real Madrid? Or given that they don't have to face either of the two teams that call that stadium home, will the 10-time Champions League opponents be able to make it a historic 11th in about three weeks' time?