Finally, the moment fans have been waiting for - the Champions League quarter-finals - is finally here. And this season's draw has thrown up some pretty exciting ties, including PSG vs. Manchester City, and an all-Spanish affair between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Many of us are really looking forward to seeing Luis Enrique's Blaugrana face Diego Simeone's Rojiblancos on Tuesday. Think you know everything this to know about these two sides? Perhaps you may want to think again, as here are a couple of interesting stats, facts, and perhaps trends you may not have been aware of...
1. Atletico Madrid just can't seem to avoid domestic rivals...
Tuesday's match will the third straight season in which Los Rojiblancos have had to face La Liga opposition. In the 2013/2014 campaign, it was Barcelona, and last season, they took on cross-town rivals Real Madrid. Interestingly enough, both these all-Spanish ties were also at the quarter-finals stage. Last time Atleti took on Barcelona, they came out on top. Will their fans see another case of déjà vu time time around?
2. Get ready for an interesting tactical battle
A quick look at the current La Liga table will reveal four things. First, Barcelona, despite their Clasico loss last weekend, are still leading the pack. Second, Atletico Madrid are just behind them. Third, the Blaugrana have the league's second most potent attack - with a whopping 87 goals and counting. And fourth, Los Rojiblancos have the meanest defense - with a measly 15 goals conceded over 31 matches.
To further illustrate how impressive this is, this is nearly half the amount of Barcelona (26) and Real Madrid (29) have conceded over the same period of time.
MSN vs. Atleti's tough back-line - viewers could be in for a real spectacle on Tuesday.
3. Beat Barcelona, book your ticket to the Champions League final?
This is curious stat that most people probably are not aware of. Well, given Barcelona's dominance of European football, it's pretty impossible to get through a Champions League campaign without facing Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and the rest of their star-studded cast at some point.
So, if your favorite team - assuming it's not the Blaugrana, of course - knock the Spanish powerhouse out, are they guaranteed a spot in the Champions League final? Seems like it, especially over the past nine or so seasons. Obviously, we are excluding the three years in which Barcelona won the title, starting with the 2006/2007 Champions League campaign:
- 2007: Runners-up: Liverpool (beat Barcelona in round of 16)
- 2008: Winner: Manchester United (beat Barcelona in semi's)
- 2009: Barcelona
- 2010: Winner: Inter (beat Barcelona in semi's)
- 2011: Barcelona
- 2012: Winner: Chelsea (beat Barcelona in semi's)
- 2013: Winner: Bayern Munich (beat Barcelona in semi's)
- 2014: Runners-up: Atletico Madrid (beat Barcelona in quarter-finals)
- 2015: Barcelona
- 2016: ??
Coincidence? Maybe. And naturally, if one beats Barcelona in the semi-finals, then of course, one will be in the finals, where, on paper, at least, the chances of winning are 50-50. However, it is just quite fascinating that with even the two runners-up - Liverpool and Atletico Madrid - that they made it to the final, despite not playing the Blaugrana in the semi's.
Simply put, since 2007, overcome the Barcelona hurdle, and one is guaranteed to feature in the Champions League final.
4. So, even the most feared team on the continent has a weakness? Perhaps...
Although Barcelona have won their last six meetings with Atletico Madrid - and should they make it seven - it will set a new record, the Blaugrana do have a bit of trouble in keeping a clean sheet against fellow La Liga sides.
In fact, in their past 12 Champions League games versus another Spanish side, they have only kept a clean sheet once, which was against Real Madrid on April 27, 2011 during the semi-finals. Nonetheless, that has not stopped them from winning three of the last nine Champions League tournaments!
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