Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid: Derby drama awaits as La Liga title race reopens

There are question marks about Los Blancos against the stronger sides this term and they have not beaten their city rivals in the league in any of the past five meetings
AFP/Getty Images
Ben Hayward28 September 2018

A crisis is never too far away at Real Madrid.

While last Wednesday’s win at home to Roma in the Champions League earned praise for the fine football on show, it was all doom and gloom just a week later following a loss by the same scoreline, 3-0, in Seville. That is how things work at the world’s biggest club.

Julen Lopetegui’s side remain joint-top of La Liga after six rounds of matches, but they missed a glorious opportunity to move clear after Barcelona had lost earlier in the evening at Leganes on Wednesday and there are question marks over their performances against the stronger sides this season.

Real lost to Atletico in the Uefa Super Cup in August in a 4-2 defeat after extra time, while they could only draw against Athletic Club at San Mames earlier this month and they were well beaten by Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan on Wednesday night.

In Pictures | Sevilla vs Real Madrid | 26/09/2018

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One player was exposed in all of those matches. Marcelo may be the world’s best attacking left-back, but defensively his performances this season have been littered with errors and rival teams have taken advantage.

All three of Sevilla’s goals stemmed from his poor positioning, while he was also at fault against Atleti in Tallinn and versus Athletic in Bilbao.

Marcelo ready to end his career at Real.
Getty Images

And at Girona, he was substituted by Lopetegui as the home side enjoyed success down his flank.

“I don’t understand it, but I respect it,” he said afterwards. “I’m at 100 per cent. I wanted to stay on.”

He is not at 100 per cent now, however. The Brazilian picked up a muscle injury at Sevilla on Wednesday and was forced off in the final 15 minutes, leaving Madrid with 10 men after Lopetegui had made his three substitutions.

The 30-year-old now looks likely to miss the derby against Atleti on Saturday and his absence could be a blessing in disguise for the home team, with Diego Simeone’s side certain to have highlighted his defensive deficiencies.

Madrid do not have a proper replacement for the Brazilian, though, with Nacho likely to move across to the left, having filled in as right-back in Seville.

Real beat Atleti in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals, but they have found derbies difficult in recent seasons – especially at the Santiago Bernabeu.

In Pictures: Champions League final - Real Madrid vs Atletico

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Atletico have not lost any of their last five visits to Real in La Liga, winning three in a row and drawing the past two at the home of their city rivals.

They also won the teams’ last meeting – that 4-2 extra-time success in the Uefa Super Cup in Estonia last month.

In Pictures | Uefa Super Cup, Real Madrid vs Atletico | 15/08/2018

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Simeone’s side got off to a slow start in La Liga and at one point it looked as if the Rojiblancos might be out of the race altogether after picking up just five points from their first four games, but back-to-back wins over Getafe and Huesca have seen them close to within two points of both Barca and Real at the top of the table.

Getty Images

While Madrid have hit some problems in defence and also when it comes to converting chances, Atleti are finding form and the home side will also be without Isco, who is sidelined with appendicitis and underwent an operation this week.

Dani Carvajal should return at right-back, though, while Lopetegui could decide to recall Keylor Navas in goal and take Thibaut Courtois out of the firing line against his former team.

For Atleti, Jose Gimenez looks set to shake off a knee problem and Simeone’s side will have had an extra day’s rest after they beat Huesca 3-0 at home to Tuesday.

Asked about the derby after that match, the Argentine said: “It comes after a good result for us and we will try to manage our efforts in the best way possible for what is an important match.”

And Lopetegui said on Wednesday night: “When you lose, everyone is angry and sad. But we have to look ahead. We have the derby in three days' time.”

In Pictures | Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid derby | 08/04/2018

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Even at this early stage, another defeat could leave Lopetegui under severe pressure at Real. A loss for Madrid on Saturday is unthinkable and the derby will provide another stern test for his team.

For Atleti, meanwhile, it is an opportunity to prove their own Liga credentials, while Barcelona – in action earlier on Saturday at home to Athletic Club – will also be watching their two title rivals with interest.

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