Hello! And welcome to The Athletic, where it is time for more exciting Champions League coverage.
Today, we are in Madrid for the second instalment of the last-16 tie between the two biggest clubs based in the Spanish capital. And it is superbly poised after Real Madrid used home advantage to beat Atletico 2-1 in last Tuesday’s first leg.
There was seemingly an unwritten rule of ‘good goals only’ in that first leg as Rodrygo, Julian Alvarez, and Brahim Diaz all found the back of the net in style at the Bernabeu.
The Champions League holders — and record winners — have a slight advantage but in front of the rowdy Atletico fans, anything can happen.
Stick with us over the next few hours as we build up to another huge evening in Europe’s top club competition.
