The matchup between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting duels of the season. The Madrid classic, which has already delivered memorable clashes in Europe, returns to the scene with two teams in the midst of a fight for continental glory. Among so many opinions and analyses, Manolo Lama's has particularly caught attention.
Manolo Lama and His Favorite for the Atlético de Madrid-Real Madrid
The veteran journalist and sports commentator has not hesitated to give his prediction on who has the advantage in this duel. For Lama, Real Madrid's experience in the Champions League is a determining factor.
"The Madrid players are more accustomed than those of Atleti or Barça. Not to playing Wednesday and Sunday because everyone does that, but to pulling through many matches in that constant rhythm of competition. For me, the difference is made by players like Mbappé, Vinícius, Rodrygo, or Bellingham."
"They are footballers who make you win more matches than Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Pedri... or even Julián Álvarez, Griezmann, or De Paul." These words reflect the idea that, despite Atlético de Madrid's quality, Real Madrid remains the big favorite in Europe. It is the current champion of the competition, so falling in the round of 16 would be a failure for them, especially against Atlético, which would hurt more.
A Clash of Maximum Tension
The Champions League draw has left one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament. Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid's director of institutional relations, made clear the difficulty of the matchup.
"We know each other very well, we know the difficulty we will have in the matchup, but at the same time everyone knows the excitement with which we live this competition. We trust our fans in the first leg to achieve a positive result."
Meanwhile, Carlo Ancelotti also anticipated a balanced matchup. "Difficult, as always. It's going to be a beautiful, entertaining, and balanced matchup. The quality of both teams is similar."