Who: Actual Madrid vs Atletico Madrid
What: Spanish LaLiga
The place: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
When: Saturday, February 7 at 9pm native time (20:00 GMT)
Comply with Al Jazeera’s dwell textual content and photograph commentary stream of the match.
LaLiga leaders Actual Madrid entertain Atletico Madrid within the derby within the Spanish capital at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday with their cross-city rivals just one level behind them within the desk.
Actual lifted each the LaLiga and Champions League titles final season and are favourites to take action as soon as extra.
Prematurely of the assembly between the next-door rivals, when it comes to each geography and league place, Al Jazeera takes a more in-depth have a look at considered one of world soccer’s best derbies.
How are Actual Madrid fairing within the defence of their league and European crowns?
Regardless of their place on the high of the desk, Madrid have had a blended begin to their season, resulting in hypothesis that this may very well be supervisor Carlo Ancelotti’s final season in cost.
Los Blancos have been thumped 4-0 in LaLiga by Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu in October then misplaced 5-2 to their fierce rivals from Catalonia in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in January.
A run of 5 defeats and a attract 12 matches rocked the early stage of the season and left their qualification from the League Part of the Champions League unsure at one stage. Ancelotti’s facet recovered to realize a playoff place of their try to achieve the final 16 however should now face the facet they changed as Champions League winners final season, Manchester Metropolis, within the subsequent spherical.
A BIG weekend for the title 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 change into an iconic determine on the helm of Atletico. Residing within the shadow of Actual has by no means been simple however Atletico have all the time stood the take a look at below the management of the tough-talking and tackling Argentinian, who was famously on the receiving finish of a kick that resulted in a purple card for England’s David Beckham on the France 1998 World Cup.
This season began with a equally bumpy trip to that of Actual with Atletico successful solely six of their first 14 video games. It led to hypothesis that the dream run of Simeone, who has been linked with jobs at Chelsea and Tottenham in England, could also be lastly heading in the direction of a decline.
Los Colchoneros quickly reversed the momentum and have since received 19 of their final 21 matches, together with a 15-game successful streak, whereas dropping solely as soon as in that point. It has resulted in Atletico nestling in behind Actual and forward of Barca within the league, whereas ending fifth within the Champions League to qualify immediately as one of many high eight for the final 16 – thus skipping the playoffs, the place Actual face the potential banana pores and skin of former Barcelona idol Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis.
When did Atletico final win LaLiga?
Simeone led Atletico to the LaLiga title in 2020-2021, their second title below the Argentinian with the earlier coming in 2013-2014 – marking the membership’s first since 1976-1977. Los Colchoneros have received the title 11 occasions in complete.
What number of occasions have Actual received LaLiga?
Final season’s triumph was Actual’s record-extending thirty sixth league title. Barcelona are their closest challengers with 27 titles to their identify. Athletic Bilbao have received eight, and Valencia – the final facet to interrupt the Actual, Barca, Athletico successful streak – received their sixth title in 2003-2004.
The aim contributions leaderboard is shut… 👀
Who will end the season with probably the most? 🤨 pic.twitter.com/hDdONnQjtB
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 6, 2025
What’s the controversy between Actual Madrid and LaLiga referees?
Final weekend Actual Madrid dropped three factors in a shock defeat at Espanyol, after which they despatched the Spanish soccer federation a letter blasting LaLiga refereeing as “rigged”.
Madrid have been left raging after Espanyol defender Carlos Romero scythed down Kylian Mbappe, avoiding a purple card earlier than happening to attain the winner.
Carlo Ancelotti left Mbappe out of his squad which beat Leganes on Wednesday to achieve the Copa del Rey semifinals, saying the striker had a bruised calf.
The French famous person will most probably return to face Atletico for the primary time since becoming a member of Los Blancos. Mbappe missed the 1-1 attract September on the Metropolitano stadium with a hamstring drawback.
Madrid scraped a late 3-2 win over Leganes which noticed them keep away from a draining further half-hour of extra-time.
“The crew is in fine condition, we left some gamers out to relaxation and to be prepared for Saturday,” Ancelotti mentioned.
What have Athletico mentioned about Actual’s LaLiga complaints?
Actual’s vigorous complaints about refereeing haven’t gone unnoticed throughout city.
“Are you able to assist us with the nuances of the next verbs? strain, scare, intimidate, coerce, frighten, affect, impose…” Atletico wrote in a sardonic message on X, within the wake of Madrid’s letter.
Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann mentioned he was sad concerning the scenario, together with the main focus within the media on Madrid’s assertion.
“Now the referees can be afraid of constructing errors as a result of they know they’re being watched,” the French ahead instructed Movistar.
“We now have to allow them to be calm, they’ve bought sufficient on their fingers as it’s on the pitch, not to mention with silly stuff happening off of it.”
Atletico themselves have been hinting at refereeing bias in favour of Madrid, most notably after Los Blancos beat Celta Vigo in a cup match in January with controversial calls of their favour.
“I didn’t see yesterday’s match, they instructed me about some issues that occurred, as have been happening for 100 years … I don’t know why persons are shocked,” mentioned Atletico coach Diego Simeone.
Who do Barcelona play this weekend?
Barcelona’s subsequent match is on Sunday when the Catalans go to Sevilla, aiming to maintain the strain on the highest two.
Giuliano appears a correct participant… 👏❤️
His current type in all comps. 👇 pic.twitter.com/ZhuaXcxapw
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 5, 2025
Actual Madrid crew information
Actual come into the derby plagued with damage issues on the again, with Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba all sidelined.
Ancelotti should additionally determine whether or not to take care of his attacking quartet of Vinicius Junior, Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo or go for a extra conservative set-up.
Atletico Madrid crew information
The one absence for Atletico is defender Robin Le Normand, who’s suspended after accumulating 5 yellow playing cards.
Simeone joked that he can be arriving on the Bernabeu “in the identical trend as all the time, by [parking the] bus.”
With forwards Alexander Sorloth, Griezmann, Julian Alvarez and Angel Correa all among the many objectives currently, together with Rodrigo De Paul shining in midfield, the Rojiblancos actually have the firepower to dismantle the hosts in the event that they did select an attacking strategy, although. Giuliano Simeone, son of the supervisor, has three objectives and two assists from his final three video games.
Head-to-head
Atletico are unbeaten towards Actual in 4 derby matches in LaLiga, with three of these – together with the final two leading to 1-1 attracts, whereas Atletico have been 3-1 winners at residence in September 2023.
Angel Correa levelled within the ninetieth minute for Atletico within the reverse fixture earlier this season after Eder Militao gave Actual the lead simply earlier than the hour mark. Marcos Llorente was additionally despatched off in stoppage time for the house facet.
Atletico’s final league win was in September 2016 courtesy of a 53rd-minute strike by a sure Antoine Griezmann – who has been to Barcelona and again since then.
Actual did report a 5-3 win within the Spanish Tremendous Cup towards Atletico, however misplaced 4-2 within the Copa del Rey match through which they have been pitted throughout the identical marketing campaign. Their final league win got here in September 2022 with a 2-1 victory at Atletico, whereas their final residence league win was a 2-0 win in December 2021.
The perimeters additionally met within the Champions League closing in 2014, with Actual successful 4-1 in Lisbon, Portugal. The perimeters have been managed on the time by Ancelotti and Simeone with the previous in his first spell as Actual coach.
