A Madrid derby full of morbidity
Atlético and Real Madrid meet at the Wanda -without a corridor- and with fourth place in the air for those at home
MADRID, 7 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid will face each other this Sunday (9:00 p.m.) in the last game of matchday 35 in the Santander League, a morbid derby that comes after the merengue league title a week ago and the ecstasy of the past Wednesday by getting into the Champions League final in an epic way.
The whites are on the crest of the wave and the mattresses are still stuck in the irregularity of the entire course. In fact, the neighbor’s visit would be a great opportunity to avoid scares at the end of the season and secure a place in the Champions League. His rival, on the other hand, has all her homework done and only thinks about Paris.
The appointment does not mean the same for some as for others, but surely Carlo Ancelotti’s pupils are very aware of that, who will not want to lose competitive rhythm until May 28 arrives. His strength will be to maintain the vigor of last Wednesday, the same one that dwarfed an entire Manchester City, an athletic executioner – by the way – a round earlier in Europe.
The 3-1 victory and the League held last Saturday after beating Espanyol made the madridistas go into the derby with their heads held high and with more confidence than their opponent. In addition, the week has been full of controversy down the hall in honor of the champion that -finally- the rojiblancos will not perform against Real Madrid.
The club of the bear and the strawberry tree issued a statement this week assuring that “under no circumstances will Atlético de Madrid collaborate in this attempt at derision in which the true values of sport are completely forgotten and tension and confrontation are encouraged. among the fans.
In this way, debate settled before a derby that will not have that added morbidity -as confirmed this Saturday by their coaches- who repeated the same word to define themselves: respect. However, there will be that rivalry in the game rectangle with more to play for the home team than for the whites, who will not have Thibaut Courtois.
The Belgian international will leave his place to the Ukrainian Andriy Lunin, who will try to take advantage of the opportunity in a derby with more rotations, among them those that will present the midfield with Ceballos or Camavinga, the latter one of the most important players in the comeback against City. In defense, Vallejo is expected to start to give rest to a ‘touched’ Militao.
As for the rest of the eleven, Carlo Ancelotti will be able to rotate as needed with the exception of the injured Hazard, Bale and Alaba, the latter will continue trying to reach the Champions League final in top condition after missing last Wednesday’s game. It could also be an occasion for Asensio, Isco or Mariano.
AN ATLETI WITH MORE OBLIGATIONS
For its part, Diego Pablo Simeone’s team cannot fail if they do not want to put fourth position at stake. Betis pushes from the fifth and there will still be three days left when the derby ends. A more compromised situation than that of his eternal rival, released and without the ‘obligation’ of the marker.
The colchoneros -who have won one of their last three games at the Wanda- will try to recover the defensive solidity, so longed for this year, to get closer to the version that allowed them to be League champions just 12 months ago. For this Sunday, Simeone will have several confirmed casualties that will make it more difficult to make his eleven.
Neither Joao Félix nor Thomas Lemar will be there -in their recovery processes until next season- and neither will Mario Hermoso be able to help the team, due to the accumulation of warnings. Who will finally play is Reinildo, who saw how the Appeal took away the card shown last weekend.
The doubts will be in the lead with a Griezmann who has not scored since January 6 and with the possible option of Cunha in his place. In addition, Llorente and Carrasco will help on the wings in search of the depth and freshness that Real Madrid may miss. In short, a capital derby that does not lack emotion, although almost everything has been said in this League.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.
ATLETICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Vrsaljko, Savic, Gimenez, Lodi; Kondogbia, Koke, DePaul; Llorente, Carrasco and Griezmann.
REAL MADRID: Lunín; Lucas Vazquez, Nacho, Vallejo, Marcelo; Casemiro, Ceballos, Camavinga; Asensio, Rodrygo and Benzema.
–REFEREE: Soto Grado (C. Riojano).
–STADIUM: Metropolitan Wanda.
–TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar LaLiga.