The Metropolitan lives a crucial derby
Atlético and Real Madrid cross paths in their pursuit of Barça with the obligation not to fail so as not to fall out of the fight too soon
MADRID, 28 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This Sunday, Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid experience the first derby of the season on matchday 8 of LaLiga EA Sports 2024-2025, a crucial duel to follow in the wake of leader FC Barcelona and not fall behind prematurely, with the important Kylian Mbappé is out of the Madrid team and in a talismanic place in recent seasons for the rojiblancos, who arrive with 48 hours less rest.
The ‘colchonero’ fiefdom hosted Real Madrid’s last blot in the League more than a year ago. On September 24, 2023, Atlético won 3-1 in a very bad game for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, who from then on got into tune, especially defensively, to start a streak of 39 games without losing – the record stands in 43 consecutive matches–.
Real Madrid arrives at the derby second in the table with 17 points, 4 behind the leader FC Barcelona, after four consecutive victories after the last one in the form of a draw in Gran Canaria (1-1) – they also tied in their debut in Mallorca –. His situation forces him not to fail so as not to give up even more ground in the race for the title, in which he is already at a disadvantage.
The plus point will be the 48 more hours of rest for the Madridistas, who played on Tuesday, when they beat Alavés 3-2 in a match that ended with a bittersweet feeling due to two late goals from the Basques starting in the 85th minute to tarnish a game already sentenced. A duel in which Vinícius could have been sent off for his protests, an issue that is affecting the meringues at this start, a red card that Endrick could have also received for kicking the defender without the ball.
The young Brazilian forward would be the natural replacement for the injured Kylian Mbappé, who will not play his first big game due to a muscle problem, in negative news for Ancelotti’s team. The loss of the ‘9’ may make Ancelotti recover the 4-4-2 that gave him so much success last year, incorporating a fourth midfielder to reinforce that area and match an intensity that Atlético always ensures in its fiefdom.
Ancelotti will consider whether that midfielder is Luka Modric (the best placed), Arda Güler or the recently recovered Eduardo Camavinga, with fewer options as he has not even made his debut this season. There will be Dani Carvajal who missed the Alavés duel due to discomfort, while Dani Ceballos, Brahim Díaz and David Alaba are still out.
The red and white team, after beating RC Celta by the minimum (0-1), is six points behind FC Barcelona, a difference resulting from the three draws that have already been left in the way in this league start. After a summer full of new developments and with maximum enthusiasm, the red and whites arrive undefeated at this start, just two points behind their neighbor.
Atleti was the kryptonite of a great Real Madrid domestic champion last year, undefeated in 90 minutes – a victory and a loss in overtime – against the whites, and this year they want to repeat their success. To do this, they must maintain their security at the back, with the best goalkeeper in the five major leagues (in percentage of saves), and shore up their attack, with Julián Álvarez who has just scored the winning goal in Balaídos and aims to start with Griezmann .
The Frenchman, top scorer in Atleti’s history, is the heart of this Atleti and Real Madrid is one of his favorite victims. Against the whites he has celebrated, as a red and white, nine goals and seven assists, in 23 games with Atlético. Alexander Sortloth will wait his turn on the bench, who can give other variations, in a system again with three at the back and two long wingers, and with a midfield ordered by Koke and flanked by a Gallagher on a roll and the faithful squire De Paul .
Furthermore, the derby is held in a Metropolitano that is a true fortress for the red and whites, who have lost only one of their last nine home games. Opposite will be a Real Madrid that has only won one of the last six visits. In fact, since 2016 the Madrid team has only achieved 2 victories on rival territory.
This derby, capital for their domestic aspirations, comes in the middle of a marathon match that will culminate in the international break, and just before the second day of the Champions League, against Lille away from home in the case of Real Madrid, and against Benfica in Lisbon, as the red and whites’ next match.
TECHNICAL SHEET.
–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Giménez, Reinildo, Lino; Gallagher, Koke, DePaul; Griezmann and Julián Álvarez.
REAL MADRID: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Modric, Bellingham; Rodrygo and Vinícius.
–REFEREE: Busquets Ferrer (Balearic Islands).
–STADIUM: Cívitas Metropolitano.