A derby worth more than three points
Real Madrid wants to give LaLiga a lunge against an Atlético that seeks to shorten its disadvantage
MADRID, 11 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid receives Atlético de Madrid this Sunday (9:00 p.m.) in the most attractive match of the seventeenth day of the Santander League, with the intention of striking a lunge at the reigning champion and opening a considerable gap at the head of the championship, while mattresses will want to shorten differences.
Those of Carlo Ancelotti, who accumulate nine consecutive victories, are looking for the tenth and extend their good run against their neighbors in a match that has all the ingredients after a week of many European emotions. The whites beat Inter and sentenced the first place in their group; Simeone’s men achieved the pass ‘in extremis’ at Porto’s home.
This emotional bonus plays in favor of the colchoneros, who received unquestionable emotional support -despite the setback against Mallorca- and found the path that their coach demands so much. The reliability of the own area and the lethality in the opposite. Simeone has already made it clear that Real Madrid knows that they are a “competitive” team and that “they will not have an easy game.”
Atlético visit the Santiago Bernabéu without the injured Stefan Savic, Kieran Trippier and Sime Vrsaljko, one of the best last Wednesday in Do Dragao, who has a broken jaw. In addition, Giménez continues to be a doubt for ‘Cholo’ and Luis Suárez, who retired with pain in Portugal, may be part of the game.
This was confirmed by the mattress coach, who did not reveal whether the Uruguayan forward will start, but did say at the previous press conference that he will be “with the group” for the derby in the capital. However, his replacement would be Matheus Cunha, who played a great game in the Champions League and seems in tune with his new team. The rest of the eleven will presumably be the same as Porto.
“BENZEMA IS GOING TO PLAY.”
For its part, Real Madrid reaches the derby with the best numbers of the season, boosted to the lead with ten points ahead of Atlético and with the feeling that a victory would leave the title half tied. They would be 13 units ahead -even with one more game than the rojiblancos- just when there is one day left to reach the halfway point of the championship.
Simeone knows it and Ancelotti, who continues without rotating and taking out his eleven type, whoever the rival is, too. The Italian has recently highlighted the “commitment” of his players, something that he did not indicate at the beginning of the course, especially defensively. That is one of the keys to Reggiolo’s coach, who continues to define himself by “balance”.
His big news is the return of Karim Benzema, the great scorer of the 13-time European champion, who already missed the match against Inter due to being injured in San Sebastián. His presence was confirmed by Ancelotti, who said that “Benzema is going to play.” At his side, the Brazilians so; Mainly a Vinicius who grows day after day, and his compatriot Rodrygo, who has won the place to Asensio and Hazard.
As for the rest of the eleven, with no confirmed casualties except for Dani Ceballos, the meringues will go out with the team that all the fans recite in a rush, where the unrivaled midfield and the central pair formed by Militao and Alaba stand out. offering an excellent performance that has made Sergio Ramos forget.
The last precedent was the 1-1 of the Metropolitan Wanda last year, with goals from Luis Suárez and Karim Benzema. This Saturday, at the Bernabéu, the derby is worth more than three points. For some, half a league; for others, the possibility of avoiding that your neighbor puts cruising speed to a title that will belong to him until May.
DATASHEET.
– POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Rodrygo, Vinicius and Benzema.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Llorente; Kondogbia, Felipe, Mario Hermoso; Carrasco, De Paul, Koke, Correa; Griezmann and Cunha.
– REFEREE: Mateu Lahoz (C. Valenciano).
–Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
–TIME: 21.00 / Movistar LaLiga.