MADRID — Last season's Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid meet for the seventh time this season in Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal, first leg with revenge in mind for both. Real took the spoils in Lisbon last May as Sergio Ramos' stoppage time header denied Atletico its first ever European Cup and sent the game into extra time when Los Blancos romped to a 4-1 win. However, the tables have been turned this season as Atletico has won four and drawn two of the six meetings so far this season. That run has included two aggregate victories over two legs in the Spanish Supercup and the Copa del Rey. Yet, it was its last encounter in La Liga in February that was the most embarrassing for Real as Atletico romped to its biggest victory in a Madrid derby for 28 years in a 4-0 rout. “The last result against Atletico is a motivating factor for us,” said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti. “It will be a different game, but difficult as it always is against Atletico. “We come into the game in good form, we are motivated and we will give everything we have. I don't have any doubt that it will be an intense game.” However, unlike that most recent meeting at the Vicente Calderon when they were without five first-team regulars, Real is at full strength for the first time in five months. James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos return from suspension after missing Saturday's 3-0 win over Eibar which moved Real back to within two points of Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Meanwhile, Gareth Bale returned to training Sunday and is expected to fit to start. Atletico has received a huge injury boost of its own with the news that Mario Mandzukic will be available after overcoming an ankle problem which kept him out of its last two games. The Croatian has scored 20 goals since signing from Bayern Munich last summer, including two in three games against Madrid at the Calderon. Raul Garcia is also expected to recover from an elbow problem meaning Diego Simeone will also have a fully-fit squad to choose from. Pirlo dilemma for Juve Coach Massimiliano Allegri faces a tricky dilemma for Juventus' Champions League clash against AS Monaco as he tries to decide whether to field Andrea Pirlo after the playmaker's recovery from injury. Pirlo has not played since he suffered a calf strain against Borussia Dortmund seven weeks ago and, at 35, it could be a risky move to throw him straight into Tuesday's quarterfinal first leg in Turin. Although he retains the ability to change a game with a single slide-rule pass or majestic free kick, the odd sign of vulnerability has crept into his game especially when trying to play his way out of a tight spot near his own penalty area. On the other hand, Saturday's shock Serie A defeat against bottom-of-the-table Parma, when Juventus rested a number of regular players, has suggested its strength in depth may not be quite as impressive as pundits previously thought. Juventus is also missing its other key midfielder Paul Pogba and, facing Monaco's miserly defense, Allegri is likely to need all the creativity he can muster to supply attacking duo Carlos Tevez and Alvaro Morata. Juventus, Italy's most successful team domestically, is attempting to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2002-03. — Agencies
