As for Atleti – nickname terms, us – they’re getting there. They too aren’t what they were, but in some ways are closer to getting back there. Jose Gimenez is a giant, Joao Felix will be a star, and Saul, Thomas and Herrera is a serious piece of midfield. I fancy them.
These teams are not bad. Real’s rebuild hasn’t quite worked itself out yet, but that midfield, though past its best, is still that midfield. In attack, I’m not quite sure how that front three will work out – there’s a lack of oomph – but you can never underestimate Atletico’s propensity to shoot themselves in the solar plexus.
Preamble
Why. Why? Why! WHY?! Yet here we are.
Without wanting to get too meta, for this is surely not a preamble about writing a preamble, it’s impossible to pick out the key element of this match in a hilarious, stylish and intensely poignant manner without alighting upon the sheer awfulness of what we’re about to enjoy. How can we focus on the football, when even the football isn’t focused on the football?
This might well be a good game – two huge teams running into decent form – but we cannot and must not be consumed by that, because that is what they want us to be. Let’s be better than them.
Kick-off: 6pm GMT
Updated