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You guys, I'm not going to lie, I'm an absolutely nervous TRAIN WRECK right now. My stomach is churning, I can't focus on anything, I keep having nightmares about Atleti winning it all. Just when I think it can't get worse, the idea of the game going into a penalty kick shootout creeps into my mind and I turn into a paralyzed bundle of nerves.
However, in the case that this nightmare-ish scenario were to play itself out, what should we expect from the two teams? Both have world class keepers, both have good players who can make solid boot-to-ball contact in a generally forward direction, both have managers who have undoubtedly worked on penalties this week. So who has the edge?
Atletico Madrid
In the league, Atleti have been awarded 10 penalties with three awarded against them which is somewhat surprising given how physical of a side they are. However, Real Madrid have been awarded two penalties against Atleti in the CDR so maybe Carlo's men have their number. Of those 10 PKs awarded, Atleti only scored on six with the other four being saved. Diego Costa has taken eight of them and has scored on 5/8, while David Villa has taken the other two and has scored on one of them. In the Champions League, they have been awarded two PKs with Costa taking both and missing one. Thibault Courtois has saved one of three PKs he faced in the league as well as the one he faced in the Champions League.
Should Costa be playing tomorrow, their probable PK shootout lineup is as follows:
- Diego Costa
- David Villa
- Raul Garcia
- Koke
- Gabi
- Arda Turan
- Diego
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Angel di Maria
- Sergio Ramos (ugh)
- Luka Modric
- Karim Benzema (pending fitness)
- Gareth Bale
- (don't really want to think about it past this point)