After another case of so near yet so far for Atletico Madrid, the spectacular form of Yannick Carrasco is powering the latest strong bid from Diego Simeone’s men to finally be crowned kings of Europe.
Victory at home to Champions League debutants FC Rostov on Tuesday will seal Atletico’s place in the last 16 for the fourth consecutive year with two games to spare.
Carrasco’s goal in May’s final of last season’s Champions League wasn’t enough as cross-city rivals Real Madrid emerged victorious in a penalty shoot-out.
Atletico are now the only team to have lost three finals without ever winning the European Cup — two of them in the past three seasons under Simeone.
