Who: Actual Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
What: Spanish LaLiga
The place: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
When: Saturday, February 7 at 9pm native generation (20:00 GMT)
Observe Al Jazeera’s reside textual content and picture observation tide of the fit.
LaLiga leaders Actual Madrid entertain Atletico Madrid within the derby within the Spanish capital at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday with their cross-city opponents just one level in the back of them within the desk.
Actual lifted each the LaLiga and Champions League titles latter season and are favourites to take action over again.
In journey of the assembly between the next-door opponents, on the subject of each geography and league place, Al Jazeera takes a more in-depth take a look at one in every of international soccer’s biggest derbies.
How are Actual Madrid fairing within the defence in their league and Eu crowns?
Regardless of their place on the govern of the desk, Madrid have had a combined begin to their season, important to hypothesis that this may well be supervisor Carlo Ancelotti’s latter season in fee.
Los Blancos have been thumped 4-0 in LaLiga via Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu in October upcoming misplaced 5-2 to their fierce opponents from Catalonia within the Spanish Tremendous Cup in Saudi Arabia in January.
A run of 5 defeats and a attract 12 suits rocked the early degree of the season and left their qualification from the League Segment of the Champions League in lack of certainty at one degree. Ancelotti’s facet recovered to reach a playoff place of their aim to succeed in the latter 16 however should now face the facet they changed as Champions League winners latter season, Manchester Town, within the subsequent spherical.
A BIG weekend for the identify race… 👀#LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/f1aB0KplVE
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 7, 2025
Is Atletico’s problem for LaLiga and the Champions League sudden?
Diego Simeone took over as supervisor in December 2011 and has transform an iconic determine on the helm of Atletico. Dwelling within the silhoutte of Actual hasn’t ever been simple however Atletico have at all times stood the take a look at beneath the management of the tough-talking and tackling Argentinian, who used to be famously at the receiving finish of a kick that ended in a purple card for England’s David Beckham on the France 1998 Global Cup.
This season began with a in a similar way bumpy journey to that of Actual with Atletico successful handiest six in their first 14 video games. It ended in hypothesis that the dream run of Simeone, who has been related with jobs at Chelsea and Tottenham in England, could also be in spite of everything heading against a abate.
Los Colchoneros quickly reversed the momentum and feature since received 19 in their latter 21 suits, together with a 15-game successful streak, occasion shedding handiest as soon as in that generation. It has ended in Atletico nestling in in the back of Actual and forward of Barca within the league, occasion completing 5th within the Champions League to qualify without delay as one of the most govern 8 for the latter 16 – thus skipping the playoffs, the place Actual face the prospective banana pores and skin of former Barcelona idol Pep Guardiola’s Town.
When did Atletico latter win LaLiga?
Simeone led Atletico to the LaLiga identify in 2020-2021, their 2nd identify beneath the Argentinian with the former coming in 2013-2014 – marking the membership’s first since 1976-1977. Los Colchoneros have received the identify 11 occasions in general.
How repeatedly have Actual received LaLiga?
Extreme season’s triumph used to be Actual’s record-extending thirty sixth league identify. Barcelona are their closest challengers with 27 titles to their identify. Athletic Bilbao have received 8, and Valencia – the latter facet to split the Actual, Barca, Athletico successful streak – received their 6th identify in 2003-2004.
The function contributions leaderboard is akin… 👀
Who will end the season with essentially the most? 🤨 pic.twitter.com/hDdONnQjtB
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 6, 2025
What’s the controversy between Actual Madrid and LaLiga referees?
Extreme weekend Actual Madrid dropped 3 issues in a trauma defeat at Espanyol, then which they despatched the Spanish soccer federation a letter withering LaLiga refereeing as “rigged”.
Madrid have been left raging then Espanyol defender Carlos Romero scythed unwell Kylian Mbappe, warding off a purple card ahead of happening to attain the winner.
Carlo Ancelotti left Mbappe out of his squad which beat Leganes on Wednesday to succeed in the Copa del Rey semifinals, announcing the striker had a bruised calf.
The French celebrity will possibly go back to stand Atletico for the primary generation since becoming a member of Los Blancos. Mbappe ignored the 1-1 attract September on the Metropolitano stadium with a hamstring disease.
Madrid scraped a past due 3-2 win over Leganes which noticed them steer clear of a draining supplementary half-hour of extra-time.
“The team is in good shape, we left some players out to rest and to be ready for Saturday,” Ancelotti stated.
What have Athletico stated about Actual’s LaLiga proceedings?
Actual’s lively proceedings about refereeing have no longer long gone overlooked throughout the city.
“Can you help us with the nuances of the following verbs? pressure, scare, intimidate, coerce, frighten, influence, impose…” Atletico wrote in a sardonic message on X, within the wake of Madrid’s letter.
Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann stated he used to be unsatisfied in regards to the condition, together with the focal point within the media on Madrid’s commentary.
“Now the referees will be afraid of making mistakes because they know they are being watched,” the French ahead informed Movistar.
“We have to let them be calm, they’ve got enough on their hands as it is on the pitch, let alone with stupid stuff going on off of it.”
Atletico themselves were hinting at refereeing favor in general of Madrid, maximum particularly then Los Blancos beat Celta Vigo in a cup fit in January with debatable cries of their favour.
“I didn’t see yesterday’s match, they told me about some things that happened, as have been going on for 100 years … I don’t know why people are surprised,” stated Atletico trainer Diego Simeone.
Who do Barcelona play games this weekend?
Barcelona’s subsequent fit is on Sunday when the Catalans talk over with Sevilla, aiming to hold the power at the govern two.
Giuliano appears to be like a correct participant… 👏❤️
His fresh mode in all comps. 👇 pic.twitter.com/ZhuaXcxapw
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 5, 2025
Actual Madrid workforce information
Actual come into the derby plagued with trauma issues on the again, with Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba all sidelined.
Ancelotti should additionally make a decision whether or not to conserve his attacking quartet of Vinicius Youth, Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo or go for a extra conservative set-up.
Atletico Madrid workforce information
The one absence for Atletico is defender Robin Le Normand, who’s suspended then gathering 5 yellow playing cards.
Simeone joked that he can be arriving on the Bernabeu “in the same fashion as always, by [parking the] bus.”
With forwards Alexander Sorloth, Griezmann, Julian Alvarez and Angel Correa all a number of the objectives in recent years, along side Rodrigo De Paul dazzling in midfield, the Rojiblancos unquestionably have the firepower to dismantle the hosts in the event that they did make a selection an attacking method, even though. Giuliano Simeone, son of the executive, has 3 objectives and two assists from his latter 3 video games.
Head-to-head
Atletico are unbeaten towards Actual in 4 derby suits in LaLiga, with 3 of the ones – together with the latter two make happen 1-1 attracts, occasion Atletico have been 3-1 winners at house in September 2023.
Angel Correa levelled within the ninetieth slight for Atletico within the opposite fixture previous this season then Eder Militao gave Actual the govern simply ahead of the month mark. Marcos Llorente used to be additionally despatched off in stoppage generation for the house facet.
Atletico’s latter league win used to be in September 2016 courtesy of a 53rd-minute clash via a undeniable Antoine Griezmann – who has been to Barcelona and again since upcoming.
Actual did checklist a 5-3 win within the Spanish Tremendous Cup towards Atletico, however misplaced 4-2 within the Copa del Rey fit through which they have been pitted throughout the similar marketing campaign. Their latter league win got here in September 2022 with a 2-1 victory at Atletico, occasion their latter house league win used to be a 2-0 win in December 2021.
The perimeters additionally met within the Champions League ultimate in 2014, with Actual successful 4-1 in Lisbon, Portugal. The perimeters have been controlled on the generation via Ancelotti and Simeone with the previous in his first magic as Actual trainer.