Real Madrid travel to Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano for the first time ever on Saturday for the 161st league version of the Madrid Derby. While the setting will be new, the stakes remain unchanged, although the pressure emanating in this weekend’s fixture will be one of desperation rather than one fueled by a sense of forthcoming glory.
Should Barcelona defeat Leganes in Saturday’s early match, the Catalan side will open an 11-point gap on the Madrid clubs before they take to the Wanda pitch. In every practical sense, the loser of this fall’s Madrid Derby can kiss La Liga goodbye.
A draw between Atletico and Real, a result which has occurred twice in the last four league derbies, would be roundly celebrated in Barcelona. So both Simeone and Zidane’s men will be playing for the win, although the recent form of both teams and their star players says that a scoreless or 1-1 draw is the most likely outcome.
One needn’t look any further than the current plights of Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann for a summation of the sides' struggles. Both carry the burden of goalscoring for their respective clubs, but both have struggled mightily in La Liga this season.
At this point last season, Griezmann and Ronaldo had 11 league goals between them. How things have changed 12 months on #AtletiRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/ru9xbRwUc0
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 17, 2017
Their failures, as always, have led to various rumors of discontent. For Griezmann and Atletico, it’s a “deal in principle” for the French attacker’s transfer to Barcelona in January.
“Griezmann is a great player, one of the names being talked about but for now I have the players that I have,” said Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde. “In the future, we will see. Of course, the club, like all clubs, is open to doing business in the January window, even though we’re happy with what we already have. We’re not going to close the door on anything.”
For Ronaldo and Real, it’s a rift between the Portuguese star and club captain Sergio Ramos.
"There, there — you'll do a goal soon." Photo: @16Politica17 | Twitter
“These two players are part of the history of this club,” said Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane. “They respect each other a lot and are both intelligent people. They are together a long time, won a lot together, maybe sometimes if they disagree over something it is not important. Things are sorted inside, and there has been no problem between Cristiano and Sergio. It is good that players give their opinions, it shows they are alive.”
Real Madrid will be without Gareth Bale after the Welshman suffered another setback whilst on the verge of returning to action. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas isn’t expected to be fit in time for the match either. Isco and Luka Modric are both questionable but should be fit to play.
Atletico full-back Filipe Luis is their one major doubt for the clash, but Koke, Yannick Carrasco and Stefan Savic are all reportedly in contention to start.
The match is scheduled for a 2:45 PM E.T. kickoff on fuboTV and beIN SPORTS.
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