Atletico Madrid create more controversy ahead of Celtic game

After a win away at Ross County and another three points, next up for Celtic is the Champions League. The away match at Atletico Madrid next week is already building in anticipation and tension. The Spanish side have called up another reminder of that semi-final between the two in 1974 ahead of their upcoming Champions League game.

The Spaniards did something similar for the first match last week in Glasgow. They wore a special red, blue and white kit in memory of the 1974 semi-final between the two sides in the then European Cup. It was a controversial night on and off the pitch with Atletico Madrid getting three players sent off but still securing a 0-0 draw.

The game has become infamous over the years. It certainly wasn’t pleasant viewing or a good memory. A 2-0 win in the second leg saw the Spanish side through to the final.

You wonder why any team who saw three red cards would want to keep remembering the match. But Atletico Madrid certainly do not seem to be hesitant in doing so. After the kit for the game in Glasgow, they seem to have plans in place for the return fixture as well.

Atletico Madrid create more controversy ahead of Celtic game

As reported by the Daily Record, Ruben Ayala, who was the first Atletico Madrid player sent off in the infamous 1974 game, will be honoured at a special event the night before the upcoming group stage match and he will be the guest of honour at the Metropolitano Stadium the following day. Looking back at the game, the Argentine said:

"“I got a three-match ban for that game. I got booked twice – I think the first one was for stopping the keeper kicking it from his hands.“We knew we had acted poorly. But we got three players sent off and still got a draw at a place like Celtic Park. We were a very good team.”"

The match in Glasgow last week was a super display of the game from both sides. And let’s hope the next match is remembered for the right reasons and perhaps a point or more for the Hoops.

At the end of the day, one cannot question Atletico Madrid for celebrating one of their former players. But one has to consider the timing of it after there was so much controversy surrounding the kit in the previous game.