Madrid Seek to End Atletico Jinx

Real Madrid will aim to turn around a dismal recent record against city rivals Atletico Madrid when the clubs meet in the quarter-finals of the Champions League tonight.

Since overcoming their neighbours to lift an historic 10th European crown last May, Real have failed to beat Atletico in six attempts.

A 1-0 defeat at the Vicente Calderon in August gave Atletico a 2-1 aggregate triumph in the Spanish Super Cup, and Diego Simeone’s side won by the same margin over 90 minutes when the teams met at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga three weeks later.

A 2-0 win on home turf for Atletico led them to a 4-2 victory across two legs in January’s Copa del Rey tie, and a 4-0 Liga humbling followed for Real in February.

The latter result and a haphazard negotiation of the Champions League last-16 encounter with Schalke served to increase discontent among the Real faithful with Coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Nevertheless, there could still be a glorious conclusion to their season after Barcelona spurned a two-goal lead over Sevilla on Saturday to leave the door ajar in La Liga’s title race.