Ronaldo v Griezmann and a clash of styles - the Champions League Madrid derby in Opta numbers
Star men Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann will face off for Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sm2BBe3W54UKrmhyjJdTeR.jpg)
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are familiar foes, having faced each other in two of the last three Champions League finals - Real coming out on top in both.
The city rivals will meet for a place in this season's final in Cardiff, with the first leg of thir last-four tie taking place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Although the head-to-head record between the sides reads in favour of Real, Atleti can never be underestimated or written off.
Star players Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann could hold the key, the forwards having scored seven and five goals respectively in this season's competition.
Here, we take a look at some of the key Opta stats ahead of this week's first leg.
- This is the fourth season in succession that the teams have met in the Champions League knockout phase and Atletico are yet to come out on top against their rivals in that run.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
- This year's Madrid derby is a repeat of the 2013/14 and 2015/16 finals. Real won on both occasions, claiming a 4-1 win and a penalty shootout victory respectively to lift the trophy.
- Atletico are competing in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the third time in the last four years, having never before gone as far in the competition.
- Meanwhile, it is the seventh year in a row that Real have been among the semi-finalists, their current sequence a record for the tournament.
- Defensive stability will be key if Atletico are to progress, with Simeone's men having kept 27 clean sheets in 46 Champions League games under his leadership, more than any other club in the competition during that period.
- The first goal is usually vital in knockout games but Real will not be concerned if Atletico score first. Real have conceded first in all four knockout games this season but have won every match regardless.
- Ronaldo became the first player to reach the 100-goal mark in the Champions League during the quarter-final against Bayern Munich, a tie in which he scored five goals.
- He has scored 0.75 goals per game in the knockout stages of the Champions League (49 in 65 games), which is a better ratio than his record in the group stages (0.71).
- Ronaldo's equivalent at Atletico is Griezmann, who has scored or assisted half of his team's goals in the Champions League since last season (12 goals and 3 assists).
- Expect a slow start from Real in the semi-final, as none of their last 11 Champions League goals have been scored in the first half.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack