The Real Champs
Fansided

Real Madrid 3 – 0 Atletico Madrid: 3 takeaways from the Champions League semifinal Madrid Derby

By Alex McVey

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 02: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid (R) celebrates as he scores their first goal with team mates Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 2, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 02: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid (R) celebrates as he scores their first goal with team mates Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos during the UEFA Champions League semi final first leg match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 2, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next

Keylor Navas gets his first clean sheet in the Champions League

Real Madrid’s Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas (L) kicks the ball beside Atletico Madrid’s French forward Kevin Gameiro during the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg football match Real Madrid CF vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on May 2, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas (L) kicks the ball beside Atletico Madrid’s French forward Kevin Gameiro during the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg football match Real Madrid CF vs Club Atletico de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on May 2, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JAVIER SORIANO (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images) /

Real Madrid has had a really hard time keeping clean sheets this season. So much so, in fact, that the team had not managed to keep a single clean sheet in the entire Champions League. Who would have thought that a Madrid Derby in the semifinals would provide Navas with his first opportunity to keep a clean sheet in Europe this season.

It’s true that for the most part, Navas’ services were not required. Especially in the first half, Atletico really failed to threaten much in the final third.

However, the one time Atletico did manage to break through, Navas came up huge. Gameiro had cut through Madrid’s back line and was one-on-one with the goal, as Navas went into full-octopus mode and sprawled out to deny the Atleti striker.

That save was crucial in maintaining Madrid’s then 1-0 lead, and ultimately guided the team to a clean sheet. By preventing Atleti from getting a crucial away goal, Navas may play just as big a role in seeing Madrid through to the finals.

Home/Real Madrid News