Atletico Madrid host cross-town rivals Real Madrid as Zinedine Zidane aims to break the Madrid derby jinx as he goes up against Diego Simeone
Real Madrid have started the current campaign in dominant fashion. Yet to lose a game with 11 games into the season, Los Blancos find themselves at the top of the table, 2 points above direct title rivals Barcelona and six above their local rivals Atletico Madrid.
Many, however, are touting the fixture as the ultimate litmus test for Zidane and his men as they go up against El Cholo and his gritty team, a side that Real Madrid have failed to beat in La Liga, at least in the last three seasons. One has to go back to the 2012-13 campaign to last witness a Real Madrid win at the Vicente Calderon, where Los Blancos secured a 2-1 win thanks to goals from
Atletico Madrid have had a mixed start to the season. Dominant in several fixtures, the Rojiblancos have seen both of their losses of the current campaign come in the last 3 matches, something which has seen the side drop down to fifth on the table. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the Madrid derby:
Team News & Tactics
Atletico Madrid
One of the biggest questions in the lead-up to the game at Vicente Calderon is the fitness of French sensation Antoine Griezmann, who is set to undergo a late test in a bid to feature on Saturday, after he sustained a foot injury while on international duty. His absence could put more pressure on the likes of Kevin Gameiro and Fernando Torres, to pick up the slack.
Elsewhere, Alessio Cerci and Augusto Fernandez are still a considerable way away from being fit and available for selection and are set to remain on the sidelines for the game. The wing duo of Saul Niguez and Yannick Carrasco have been in sublime form for Simeone and the Argentine would be hopeful the duo is able to replicate their form against Zidane’s men.
The game could prove to be the last Madrid derby to be played at the Vicente Calderon, with Atletico Madrid due to shift to the Estadio Olimpico De Madrid in the summer of 2017. This could provide further ammunition and motivation for the hosts to end their association with the stadium on a positive note.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godin, Filipe Luis; Saul, Koke, Gabi, Carrasco; Gameiro, Griezmann
Real Madrid
While Atletico Madrid have, in Antoine Griezmann, perhaps the only player out of their usual starting eleven doubtful for the game, Real Madrid have a host of injury concerns to care about. Pepe is set to miss the game, which means another start for Raphael Varane, who is starting to make inroads into the starting lineup with his performances.
Elsewhere, Casemiro is also set to miss the match and the Brazilian’s absence could be the one which would hurt Real Madrid the most as the youngster has really done a remarkable job as an enforcer in the middle of the park for Zidane.
Toni Kroos is also likely to be absent, which means that Zidane is likely to deploy Kovacic in the midfield to partner his international teammate Luka Modric, whose significance has really been highlighted during his absence.
Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos could be set to return to the lineup but the former is still a doubt for the game. Benzema’s doubtful and that coupled with the unavailability of Alvaro Morata is likely to make matters interesting up-front for Los Blancos.
The duo of Bale and Ronaldo would be expected to provide the ammunition to their attack, and Cristiano Ronaldo would be eager to end his recently woeful record against Atletico Madrid.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Keylor Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Kovacic; Bale, James, Ronaldo; Benzema
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in the league against Real Madrid in the previous six meetings, winning 4 of them.
- Atletico Madrid have scored in each of the six meetings against their cross-town rivals.
- Antoine Griezmann has a average record against Real Madrid with a return of 4 goals and 5 assists in 19 appearances against the side.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has recorded 15 goals and 8 assists in 25 appearances against Atletico Madrid.
- Gareth Bale would be looking to improve on his poor record against Atletico Madrid. The Welsh superstar has just 1 goal and 4 assists to his name in 13 meetings.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 2 – 4 Real Madrid
This season, as it has panned out up until now, looks set to be Real Madrid’s season and on Saturday, a convincing win against their local rivals could lend further voice to their claims for the title in the present season. Ronaldo would be raring to set the record straight against the Rojiblancos and Gareth Bale would be looking to continue his sublime form.
Griezmann has shown in the past that he can very well measure up to the likes of Ronaldo and Bale but could fall short this time around, if he does end up starting, which is doubtful, considering his fitness.