Champions league atlético madrid

After the war, during the early Francoist period , Atlético became associated with the military air force and thus renamed Atlético Aviación , although the alleged preference of the regime for the club is subject to discussion, as after winning their very first league title in , Atlético's coach Ricardo Zamora was jailed on charges of being a communist.

In any case, during this period Atlético became the most successful club in Spain, reducing the historical gap between the two clubs, until the regime preference shifted towards Real Madrid in the s, as Franco sought to make political capital out of Real Madrid's multiple European Cup titles at a time when Spain was internationally isolated; one minister said, "Real Madrid are the best ambassadors we've ever had.

The rivalry first gained international attention in during the European Cup when the two clubs met in the semi-finals. Real won the first leg 2—1 at the Santiago Bernabéu , while Atlético won 1—0 at the Metropolitano. The tie went to a replay, which Real won 2—1. Atlético, however, gained some revenge when, led by former Real Madrid coach José Villalonga , it defeated its city rivals in two successive Copa del Generalísimo finals in and The Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid's stadium named after its former president, is alongside banks and businesses on the upper class Paseo de la Castellana street, while the Vicente Calderón the stadium that Atlético Madrid used until the —17 season could be found near a brewery, alongside the Manzanares River and a motorway.