MADRID - LaLiga leaders Atlético Madrid host neighbors Real Madrid on Sunday in a potentially pivotal game in the title race.
Real sit third, level on 53 points with Barcelona and five behind Atlético who have a game in hand on their rivals.
Zinedine Zidane's side dropped points on Monday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting Real Sociedad and another slip-up could prove fatal in the bid to retain their crown.
In soccer, rivalries are an important part because playing a “Derby” or “Clásico” is a privilege. However, a special flavor to these duels is tasted when remembering those players who, without any remorse, put on the shirt of the hated rival and played for both teams. These are the authentic "Judases" of soccer that will remain in history for their controversial passage from one team to another.
Here we bring you the biggest players who played for the hated rival.
Three of Europe's biggest derbies are on the buffet table for this weekend’s fixture list. If your life has been bereft of drama, emotion and goals, these games should be enough to quench your appetite.
Colchoneros, catalanes, merengues y nervionenses tendrán que dar el todo por el todo en la cancha si pretenden conquistar el ansiado título de la Liga Santander 2020-2021. Temporada tan particular como atípica. Estadios vacíos, pandemia incontrolable, crisis económica mundial y ahora el “Barçagate” percuten en demasía el ritmo de la competencia en España.
With Sunday’s Madrid Derby now on the horizon, Real Madrid missed a massive opportunity to ratchet up the pressure on Atlético by slipping to a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano on Monday night.
Real clearly felt the absence of Karim Benzema up top — along with the continued unavailability of Sergio Ramos, Eden Hazard, Dani Carvajal and Éder Militão — and today’s starting front three of Marco Asensio, Mariano and Isco was hooked en masse in the 61st minute after Portu had put Sociedad up 1-0 in the 55th.
Reinier, 18 at the time, arrived in Germany with high hopes.
The Brazilian attacker signed for Borussia Dortmund on a two-year loan deal from Real Madrid, having joined the Spanish giants from Flamengo in January 2020 on a $36 million deal. He was the latest Brazilian starlet to make the move to the Bernabeu, as Madrid had previously bought Vinícius, also from Flamengo, and Rodrygo Goes from Santos, each for over $50 million.
Real Madrid will head home with a 1-0 win over Atalanta on Wednesday at Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy, but the Italian side will be left wondering “what if.”
Atalanta was bossing the 13-time Champions League winners for the opening 15 minutes before a soft red card irreversibly altered the match. Fullback Ferland Mendy both drew the red card and scored the late winner as Zinedine Zidane’s side escaped with a win in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
Reports this week in Spain and abroad suggested Kosovare Asllani, one of the most recognizable and prolific forwards in the game, was on the outs at Real Madrid. The club, in its first season, reportedly wanted more from the Swede, who had yet to score in 2021 despite scoring eight in eight to start the campaign. Spanish daily AS wrote that the star striker had “dried up,” having failed to score since Dec. 13.
Eden Hazard has been the target of several criticisms for his poor performance since his arrival at Real Madrid, in theory, to replace Cristiano Ronaldo's departure. However, his quality hasn’t been the same as the one that took him to the top with Chelsea.
In addition to the above, injuries and his physical shape have increased the negative comments against him and even mockery, such as the one made by Burger King, the famous burger chain.
Burger King quoted a tweet asking why the forward hadn't trained with his teammates, saying "2x1 at Burger King."
It’s a decision every footballer has pondered at some point: When is it worth committing a red-card offense to prevent a goal from being scored? It’s hard not to think the Éder Militão red card in a 2-1 defeat to Levante on Saturday was the wrong choice.