CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Atletico 2-1 REAL The imposing Giuseppe Meazza stadium in San Siro, Milan, might be a nightmare place to visit for some teams, but Real Madrid will always feel they top the list. If anything, Real Madrid should be considering themselves the worst visitors to San Siro in football history. They have a lot of ghosts to exorcise today if they are to lift their eleventh European title by its big ears. We talk of ghosts to exorcise for many reasons. First, Real are chasing for their first-ever win in Milan after 14 previous attempts. Eleven of those were Champions League matches. They stat says: Lost eight. Drawn three. Won zero. None of the current crop of Real Madrid player has played as part of a visiting side for any team and won at the San Siro. Luka Modric was on the bench when his former club, Tottenham, won 1-0 at AC Milan in the Champions League in February 2011. Injury kept Bale from featuring in that game. However, a year earlier, Bale played for Tottenham against Inter Milan at the San Siro in a 2010 Champions League match where he scored all three goals for the North London side en route to 4-3 defeat. And the bad storyline continues: It was at San Siro that Real suffered their worst defeat in the Champions League, going down 5-0 to AC Milan on April 19, 1989. However, Real Madrid players are defiant and won’t be bogged down by these misfortunes. Star player Cristiano Ronaldo has shaken off an injury scare and is fit for the derby. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will be trying to avoid a repeat of the story of two seasons ago when they led through Diego Godin’s goal until the final few minutes when the tables turned in a rather ugly twist, handing Real Madrid La Decima with a 4-1 capitulation. It was Carlo Ancelotti who had outwitted Diego Simeone, but not Real are under Zinedine Zidane. With Anton Griezman in such a terrific form, Real Madrid will find it difficult exorcising the ghost of the San Siro. I am going with Atleti win. *** CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF FINAL HULL CITY 2-2 Sheffied Wed A final of riches. A lot is at stake and not just promotion to the English Premier League for next season. Steve Bruce will be wary of his Hull City side switching off again like they did in the semi final against Derby County. Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City played stalemates in both the league fixtures and this final will be decisive. The Tigers are looking to make an immediate return to the Premier League after their relegation last season, but the Owls beat Brighton and Hove Albion 3-1 on aggregate in the first semifinal. While it is the first time in 23 years that Sheffield Wednesday have reached Wembley (the venue for the play-off final) and they now have a chance to end their 16-year exile from the top flight. Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri has thanked fans following the complete sell-out of tickets for the play-off final. The Owls’ entire allocation of 38,889 tickets was snapped up within days, with the team guaranteed their trademark incredible backing from the blue and white hordes at Wembley. Steve Bruce might be tactical shrewd but the chances of two teams relegated last season bouncing back up immediately are very slim. Burnley have done it and so Hull might have to do with the Championship for yet another season. I see the match end in a draw but the Owls are good for the win. If I were betting, I would give the Tigers half time win. jacobs.seaman@newtimes.co.rw
