Atletico 2-1 Real Madrid (2-4): Los Blancos set up Cardiff showdown with Juventus

Real Madrid were the scourge of Atletico once again as they knocked their city rivals out of the Champions League for the fourth season running at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday. 

Zinedine Zidane's side will now face Juventus in the final in Cardiff next month and win would see them become the first team to retain the title since AC Milan did so almost 30 years ago. It would also represent their third European Cup in four years, a level of success unheard of since the early years of the competition when they themselves dominated it. 

Having won the first leg 3-0 last wekk, Madrid's place in the final was never thought to be in doubt, but the way Atletico flew out of the blocks and raced into a two-goal lead in the Spanish capital raised questions. 

Spurred on by their boisterous home support in what was the Calderon's final ever European game, Saul Niguez headed Diego Simeone's side into the lead from a corner. Raphael Varane then fouled Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann chipped home the penalty -- Keylor Navas should have done better -- and the tie was alive. 

However, now only needing one goal to get back on level terms, Atletico took their foot off the gas. It proved their downfall; it allowed Madrid to get a foothold in the game and they scored the vital away goal before the break. 

Karim Benzema was brilliant all night -- as were Marcelo, Luka Modric and Isco -- but especially so in the build up to the goal. He beat three Atletico defenders before pulling the ball back to Toni Kroos. Jan Oblak made a super save from the German midfielder, but Isco was on hand to bundle the rebound home. 

That left Atletico needing three more and it never looked on. Not that they didn't have a go. When they did, though, they found Navas in their way. The Costa Rican made a fine double save from Yannick Carrasco and Kevin Gameiro, although the Frenchman should really have scored, and another late stop from Griezmann. 

The game had lost it's zip. Or rather, Atletico had, weighed down by the scale of the task. Even the meaty challenges had dried up. At one stage in the first half it looked like we'd end the game one, two or even three red cards. Somehow, though, the game finished with all 22 players on the pitch -- and Madrid in the final despite losing 2-1 on the night. 

As the rain poured down and the thunder boomed, Atletico fans stayed to applaud the effort of their team. "Proud to not be like you," a huge tifo had told Madrid before the game in response to being taunted at the Bernabeu about losing two finals to their neigbours in three years. 

They may not want to be like Madrid, but they wouldn't mind just one of their Champions League trophies. Four eliminations in successive years against anyone is hard to take, let alone your city rivals.