With both teams currently unbeaten at the start of this 2024/25 La Liga season, a highly charged derby between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid awaits us on Sunday. Here’s why Diego Simeone’s men can feel confident going into the match.
How Atleti Can Neutralise Real Threat in Madrid Derby
Atlético’s Defence
With José María Giménez on the pitch, Atlético Madrid are yet to concede a La Liga goal this season. The Uruguayan has returned to the world-class form he has shown throughout his injury-laden career, helped by new teammates, a position change and a new fitness coach.
The addition of European Championship-winning defender Robin Le Normand now provides Los Colchoneros with two of the best defenders in world football in their back three. And now that Reinildo Mandava has fully recovered from his devastating knee injury, Atleti’s defence looks solid once more.
The naturally left-footed Reinildo and Le Normand (comfortable on the right), have allowed Giménez to take up the central position of the three. In this spot, we can see why he is nicknamed “El Comandante” (the commander), as he takes charge of any interceptions, tackles and aerial duels through the middle.
The only limiting factor to Giménez’s success over his career has been his injuries. The website transfermarkt.com shows that he has suffered over thirty non-illness-related setbacks since he joined the club in 2013.
However, since the arrival of new fitness coach, Luis Pinedo, it has been smooth sailing for Josema. He is currently enjoying one of his longest injury-free spells in the 11 years he’s spent in Spain. He will play a crucial role in organising his defence to stop a Real Madrid front line that will look to come at Atleti from all angles. They will need to be disciplined and focused for the full ninety minutes, as well as not give any excuses for the officials to award Madrid any penalties.
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Real’s Injury List
Whilst Atlético have injuries of their own, it’s Los Blancos who feel their missing stars will have more of an impact on the game. The most notable of these absentees, Kylian Mbappe, may force Carlo Ancelotti to make a change in his approach to this encounter.
This may benefit Atleti as without a central striker, it will allow Giménez to double up with another defender when Vinicius Jr or Rodrygo Goes get on the ball. Fans can expect Jude Bellingham to be overrun by the likes of Gallagher, Koke and De Paul in the Atleti midfield just as he was in the meetings between these two sides last season.
The other big name that Madrid will want to have fit for a derby of this magnitude is Dani Carvajal. If he were to miss this game, Real would be missing more than just the quality he brings to the pitch as a right-back. The vice-captain also brings exactly the fire and fight the Madrid derby is won with.
Without him, it could allow whoever is preferred between Samuel Lino and Rodrigo Riquelme to run at the Madrid back four with serious intent. In this fixture last season, all three of Atleti’s goals came from crosses from the left-hand side of the pitch – Lino himself providing the first one.
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The Extra Motivation
As always, there is plenty of narrative surrounding the build-up of this one. Atleti feel hard done by, being made to play in the late kick-off away to RC Celta Vigo just 70 hours before the derby. Real, on the other hand, were given a full 48 hours longer to prepare, having played their midweek fixture on Tuesday and at home.
El Cholo was forced to bring on the big guns to get the win in Vigo which leaves doubts over how ready his players will be for Sunday night. There has already been plenty of rotation in the midfield and front line so far this season, with a set eleven yet to be made clear so there could be more chopping and changing throughout this match too.
Alongside the poor scheduling, Atleti will also feel aggrieved by decisions made by officials in previous Real Madrid matches. Or perhaps more accurately, lack of decisions. Jude Bellingham has seemed to charm his way out of any on-field or retrospective disciplinary action being made against him following his blatant insulting of the referee last weekend. In recent times, offences for less strong language said towards the referees have seen punishments of two games suspended. Just ask Saúl Ñíguez about that one.
As well as Bellingham, Vinicius Jr is lucky he isn’t missing the derby for his comments made to the fourth official as he was subbed off against Deportivo Alavés having already been on a yellow card. In the same game, Endrick was forgiven of a straight red when he kicked Santiago Mouriño in the crown jewels in an off-the-ball incident.
These two decisions have even seen Real Madrid-focused journalist Tomás Roncero admit that both Brazilians should have been sent off.
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The Home Support
All these factors will only fuel the Atleti players’ motivation to win but will feed the crowd even more so. The raucous Estadio Metropolitano is known for generating some of the best atmospheres in European football and on Sunday it’s expected to be more hostile than ever.
It was the support that was attributed to their last-minute win in the Champions League over RB Leipzig last week by the players and manager and is a factor that helps get Atleti over the line so often. Now with a capacity of over 70,000 people, Diego Simeone will be orchestrating every one of those clad in red and white to be the difference.
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Last Season’s Results
In the two matches played between the sides last season at the Metropolitano, it was Los Rojiblancos who won both with a combined scoreline of 8-4.
In the other match (a Copa del Rey fixture), Atleti overwhelmed Real in storms of attack after attack, leaving themselves open at the back to concede three goals but scoring five themselves to progress to the next round. Now with more confidence in the defence, the attacks can continue to bombard Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
The old cliché suggests that “form goes out the window” in derbies leaving the result uncertain. In this case, both teams come into this game in unbeaten form, but the uncertainty in the outcome is certainly present.
What we can expect is a derby that will produce talking points to last the rest of the season and beyond and Atlético Madrid will have all the faith that they will be able to get a result at the expense of their big brother city rivals.
