World football fans can watch Real Madrid face bitter crosstown rivals Atlético Madrid live online, in the featured match of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal round — and could pose a real danger to the Real Madrid chances to capture their second straight European championship.
Information on how to watch the heated Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid quarterfinal match live online can be found below.
Though Real Madrid’s chief rival is generally considered to be the other powerhouse of Spanish — and European — football, Barcelona F.C., Los Blancos rivalry with Atlético is just as heated and in some ways the stakes are higher. While Barcelona is clearly Real Madrid’s equal, Atlético is looked on by Real Madrid fans as the annoying little brother, with whom they just happens to share Spain’s capital city.
So it was particularly galling to Real last year when Atlético trumped both Real Madrid and Barcelona to win the La Liga trophy by three points. The shocking title run made Atlético the first team other than Real Madrid or Barcelona to win the Spanish league since 2004.
When the two Madrid teams matched up in the UEFA Champions League Final in 2014, Real faced the threat of a double humiliation. But with Atlético up 1-0 at the end of 90 minutes, the “other” Madrid side suddenly saw their world crumble.
Real’s Sergio Ramos netted an equalizer two minutes into the added five. Then in extra time, Real Madrid simply turned on the gas, powering in three goals — one each from Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale , and Marcelo — to give Real their 10th European championship.
But if Los Blancos hope for Number 11, they’ll have to get by Atléti again, this time over a two-legged tie in the tournament’s quarterfinal round, with the first game played Tuesday at Vicente Calderon Stadium, the Atléti home ground.
Atlético Madrid has already proven that they play a style that creates serious problems for their “big brothers” across town. They’ve already beaten Real Madrid three times this season, in both La Liga and Copa Del Rey competition — including a 4-0 dismantling back in January.
Atléti has accomplished the feat by exploiting the defensive midfield weaknesses that Real can often hide with its blistering, goal-scoring attack led by Ronaldo and Bale. Atlético Madrid so far has shown the counterattacking prowess to strike quickly on the offensive end while sitting deep enough to lock up the feared Real Madrid goal-scorers.
To watch the first leg match of the Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, visit Fox Sports Go at this link , or download the Fox Sports Go app to watch on mobile devices. The match kicks off at 2:45 p.m. United States Eastern Time on Tuesday, April 14.
[Image: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images]