Real Madrid and Atlético arrive at the league derby at the Bernabéu (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.) required in the classification. The whites need to keep winning and wait for Barcelona to stumble to reduce the eight points that distance them from the Catalans. The athletics, fourth in the standings, must hold on to that last place in the Champions League so as not to jeopardize the financial balance of the club, that this year it has already suffered a couple of setbacks by not being able to sell players last summer, and with the early elimination from Europe. Simeone’s men have a four-point advantage over Betis and are two behind Real Sociedad, both rivals who continue to compete in the Europa League.
But for many Atléticos, this derby is an opportunity to definitively take down Real Madrid, their great rival, from the fight for the League title. A victory at the Bernabéu could leave Ancelotti’s men 11 points behind Barça, something that would practically mean goodbye to the League, since Xavi’s men have only conceded one defeat and two draws in these 22 games.
sweat blood
Paulo Futre recalled this Thursday, in the tribute he received from Atlético for the 35th anniversary of his signing for the rojiblancos: “When I arrived they told me, ‘at Atleti you sweat your shirt, against Madrid you sweat blood. In every game you have to give your all, but, with respect for the other teams, against Madrid it’s different”.
Ancelotti and Simeone, coaches who respect and admire each other, They meet for the third time this season with two precedents favorable to the whites: 1-2 at the Metropolitano in the League and 3-1 at the Bernabéu in the Cup. But the history also remembers that Atlético’s last two victories at the Bernabéu occurred with Carletto on the local bench: 0-1, in 2013-14 and 1-2, in 2014-15. El Cholo knows, therefore, what it is to beat him in Chamartín before his parish.
In the hours before the derby, the two coaches spoke. For Ancelotti the match “is special” because of the historical rivalry between the two clubs and because the fans of the two teams also understand it. “I see the team in good shape, we came out of the Champions League game with good feelings and good dynamics. Tomorrow [por este sábado] It will be special, as always in a derby. Atlético is a team that is in a good moment, like us, and who wants to come and win like us. It will be a nice match, like the Cup one,” he added, recalling their confrontation a month ago.
The casualties of Madrid
The Italian will not be able to count on the participation of David Alaba (with a torn hamstring in his right leg), Rodrygo (tear in the left buttock) and Mendy (who will still be off the pitch for two more weeks. But recovers Tchouaméni and Mariano and will also be able to count on Toni Kroos from the start of the game, who has overcome the gastronteritis he suffered and was able to travel to Liverpool at the last minute. In addition, the transalpine coach advanced that Nacho will start as left back, in a defense that will be completed by Rüdiger, Militao and Carvajal or Lucas Vázquez.
For his part, Simeone pondered before the visit to the Bernabéu the importance of guaranteeing at least fourth place in the remainder of the championship. “Saying only qualify for the Champions League would seem little, but you have to focus on where we come from and where we are going. And It is important to qualify for the Champions League“.
“The team is better because they are playing more as a team, because we have returned to that position of Koke in the middle that gives us more fluidity in the game and it allowed us to transition better from the game. We possibly suffered a little more defensively, but we are also trying to find that balance that every team needs to afford situations”, added the Argentine coach.
The cholo loses for this duel one of its key players, the Argentine Rodrigo de Paul, which adds to the loss of an ex-madridista, Sergio Reguilón. Until the last minute, Memphis Depay and Yannick Carrasco, who have trained outside the team all week, are doubtful.
Probable lineups:
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Tchouaméni, Kroos, Modric; Valverde, Benzema and Vinícius.
Atlético: Oblak; Nahuel Molina, Savic, Hermoso, Reinildo; Barrios, Koke, Saul; Llorente, Griezmann and Carrasco.
Referee: Gil Manzano.
Estadio: Santiago Bernabeu. 6:30 p.m. (Dazn).
