Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium hosting the Champions League final was an impossible dream which could still have an unhappy ending.

Atletico Madrid’s creaking Estadio Vicente Calderon Stadium was not a ground any opponent fancied visiting, especially on big Champions League nights when the old concrete bowl literally shook with emotion and noise.

Most of the noise in Spanish football this summer was generated by superstars Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo — with the former leaving Barcelona for Paris Saint Germain, and the latter staying [for the moment at least] at Real Madrid.

Antoine Griezmann's future is once again a hot topic after Atletico Madrid failed in their bid to overturn a transfer ban.

Lionel Messi produced yet another master class as Barcelona marked the end of Luis Enrique's Nou Camp reign by lifting the Copa del Rey.

Atletico Madrid 2 Real Madrid 1 (Real Madrid win 4-2 on agg): Karim Benzema’s brilliance booked Real Madrid a place back in the Uefa Champions League final as the holders lost 2-1 to city rivals Atletico 2-1 at the Vicente Calderon, but comfortably progressed on aggregate.

Real Madrid kept up the pressure at the top of LaLiga with a clinical 4-0 win at relegated Granada.

Lionel Messi made it 51 goals for the season as Barcelona turned up the heat on Real Madrid with a thumping 4-1 home win over Villarreal in LaLiga.

Real Madrid 3 - Atletico Madrid 0: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid swept aside city rivals Atletico 3-0 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last night.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid swept aside city rivals Atletico 3-0 at the Bernabeu in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Leicester boss Craig Shakespeare has warned the Foxes against falling for Atletico Madrid’s gamesmanship.

Antoine Griezmann’s controversial first-half penalty handed Atletico Madrid a tight 1-0 win over gutsy Leicester in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Barcelona saw off Athletic Bilbao 3-0 at the Nou Camp to move to within a point of LaLiga leaders Real Madrid.

Real Madrid got their campaign in LaLiga off to the ideal start as two goals from Gareth Bale steered them to a 3-0 win away to Real Sociedad.

Bayern Munich 2 Atletico Madrid 1

Barcelona head to Atletico Madrid for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tonight aiming to show their campaign is still on track for domestic and European success.

Juventus may be struggling in Serie A but it is a different story in the Champions League with the Italian giants clinching the second win in as many games last night with a home triumph over Sevilla.

Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez expects a tough Champions League quarter-final second leg clash against city rivals Atletico Madrid tonight.

Atletico Madrid remain third in La Liga after they drew 1-1 with fourth-placed Valencia at the Vicente Calderon last night. Koke put the home side ahead but Valencia equalised through Shkodran Mustafi.

Atletico Madrid have a mountain to climb if they are to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals after they endured a night to forget at Bayer Leverkusen.

Atletico Madrid have a mountain to climb if they are to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals after they endured a night to forget at Bayer Leverkusen.

Atletico Madrid were in dreamland as they destroyed rivals Real Madrid with a thumping 4-0 win which blew the Primera Division title race wide open.

Atletico Madrid produced a storming second half to hammer Malmo 5-0 at the Vicente Calderon in Group A last night.

Chelsea could be without three of their stalwards in Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard when they face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

Atletico Madrid 1 Barcelona 0 (Atletico Madrid win 2-1 on aggregate)

Atletico Madrid 4 AC Milan 1 (Atletico win 5-1 on agg)

European round-up

Barcelona last night capped their title celebrations with a 2-1 comeback win at Atletico Madrid that was only soured by an injury to Lionel Messi.

Barcelona central defender Javier Mascherano resumed training today after five weeks on the sidelines with knee ligament damage.

Real Madrid 3 Real Betis 1

Cristiano Ronaldo scored for the eighth successive match as Real Madrid coasted to a 5-0 victory in Mallorca last night.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has criticised midfielder Luka Modric as rumours of a departure from the club intensify.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola claimed his side deserved to be closer to Real Madrid than the current 10-point gap to the Primera Division leaders but vowed his team would not give up their title without a fight after last night’s 5-1 thrashing of Valencia.

JUVENTUS and Udinese moved back into a share of top spot in Serie A after posting impressive wins yesterday.

New record signing Sergio Aguero told his agents to push through a move to Manchester City because “it felt right”.

Sergio Aguero has ended speculation linking him with a move to Tottenham after signing a contract extension with Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi stepped up his recovery from an ankle injury today by undertaking an individual training programme.

BARCELONA star Lionel Messi is set to spend up to three weeks on the sidelines with an ankle sprain.

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has praised captain Steven Gerrard for raising his game against the background of rumours of problems with his marriage.

AS ONE half of arguably the bitterest rivalry in English football, next week’s fixtures possess the potential to open up a can of worms the size of a small planet.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has called on the team to focus on winning tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match at Burnley despite a crucial European semi-final second leg looming in the background.

LIVERPOOL failed to gain any reward for their valiant efforts in making the long-haul trip to Madrid as a familiar foe gave Atletico a 1-0 victory in their Europa League semi-final first leg last night.

Atletico Madrid 1 Liverpool 0

LIVERPOOL midfielder Javier Mascherano is confident fatigue will not be a problem for the Reds against Atletico Madrid tonight despite a gruelling 24-hour trek to reach the Spanish capital.

Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores admits the buck stops with him after seeing his side slump to a demoralising home defeat at the hands of bottom club Xerez.