Atlético’s austerity meets Real lavishness in Uefa showpiece

The Champions League final is as much an allegory for the state of Spain as a passionate local derby, writes Joe Haslam in Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo was central to Real Madrid's destruction of Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final. Picture: Getty

Last year’s Champions League semi-finals were a deeply humiliating affair for Spain. Barcelona, the 2009 and 2011 winners, suffered an aggregate 7-0 defeat to Bayern Munich while nine-time winners Real Madrid went down to Borussia Dortmund 3-4 on aggregate. Suddenly, Germany were the masters at football, a sport hitherto seen in Spain as the one shining light in a time of dismal economic performance. Maybe the troika are right? The Spanish should learn ...