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Sunday, January 20, 2008

La Liga Preview: Atlético Madrid - Real Madrid


What: La Liga, Matchday 20
Who: Atlético Madrid (3rd, 37pts) vs Real Madrid (1st, 47pts)
When: Sunday, 20th January 2008, 1900 CET
Where: Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid

El Derbi Madrileño takes centre stage in La Liga this weekend as the two behemoths from the capital collide for the 142nd time in the league. The two clubs racked up a combined bill of over €200 million in the summer transfer market but all that big spending seems to be paying dividends as the results are showing on the pitch.

Atlético finished the first half of the term in their best league position in a decade, while Madrid themselves are enjoying their best start to a season in the club's rich history.

Eight Year Heartache Los

Los Colchoneros will head into Sunday's big game closest to their fierce city rivals in the standings than they have been in quite some time.

Although there's still a ten-point disparity between the sides, Atlético are only two places behind Los Blancos after last weekend's 1-0 victory over Valencia pushed them back into the top three. The hard fought win, coupled with their progress to the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey midweek, would have restored a sense of self belief in the dressing room.

It is that little extra psychological edge that has been missing in all their previous squads all these years and it’s not hard to see why they have had that knack of failing to live up to expectations come the big game.

The men from the Manzanares have yet to beat their illustrious neighbours in the new millennium, home or away. The last time they won was eight years ago back in October 1999, when they came away from the Bernabéu with a 1-3 victory.

Their head-to-head at the Calderón isn't all that impressive either. In fact, in the last 20 years, only twice have the rojiblancos won the derbi in front of their home fans. The last time that happened, incidentally, was also back in 1999. As if that’s not enough to create doubt in the players’ minds, Atléti also have a rather dreadful record this season against the big guns.

Aside from the opening day loss to their neighbours, they have also gone down to Barcelona, Espanyol and Villarreal, the three other clubs that make up the top five. But as always, the form book tends to be the first to go straight out the window in these tempestuous encounters, as emotion and passion usually preside over everything else.

Staggering Statistics

There were doubts at the start of the campaign as to whether Bernd Schuster has the pedigree to take charge at a mammoth club like Real Madrid and whether he was the right man to whip Los Blancos' dressing room into shape like Fabio Capello had the previous term.

After some wobbly performances early on, his position in the hot seat was questioned again but as the wins and the points started piling up, the critics and the sceptics have simply run out of bones to pick with the German trainer. The football may not be eye-catching at times but the statistics so far certainly are.

Top of the table with 47 points, it is the best tally by a club at the halfway stage in La Liga since the three-points for a win rule was introduced in 1995. Not only that, they also currently have the best home record with a perfect nine wins from nine games; the best away record with 20 points out of a possible 30; and the best goal difference with 41 goals scored and only 14 conceded.

Those figures are not only the best in Spain but the best amongst Europe's major leagues at the midway stage. But enough about the numbers. Schuster's boys will still have to perform on the night if they want to extend their six match winning streak in La Primera. They will have to dig deep and cast aside the disappointing midweek loss and elimination to Mallorca in the Copa de l Rey and refocus on their league conquest.

FORM GUIDE

Atlético Madrid

Jan 16 Real Valladolid vs Atlético 1-1 (COPA DEL REY)

Jan 13 Atlético vs Valencia 1-0 (LA LIGA)

Jan 10 Atlético vs Real Valladolid 0-0 (COPA DEL REY)

Jan 06 Deportivo La Coruña vs Atlético 0-3 (LA LIGA)

Jan 02 Atlético vs Granada74 1-1 (COPA DEL REY)

Real Madrid

Jan 16 Real Madrid vs Mallorca 0-1 (COPA DEL REY)

Jan 13 Levante vs Real Madrid 0-2 (LA LIGA)

Jan 10 Mallorca vs Real Madrid 2-1 (COPA DEL REY)

Jan 06 Real Madrid vs Real Zaragoza 2-0 (LA LIGA)

Jan 02 Real Madrid vs Alicante CF 2-1 (COPA DEL REY)

TEAM NEWS

Atlético Madrid

Thiago Motta has made a successful comeback from a niggling knee ailment and he is expected to line-up in midfield against the reigning champions on Sunday. He will slot in for the injured Jurado who suffered a relapse of a hamstring strain during Thursday's training session and will be sidelined for at least a week.

Defenders Zé Castro and Giorgios Seitaridis and goalkeeper Leo Franco are the three players who are out for the long haul due to various injuries, but ex-Bernabéu hero José Antonio Reyes has shaken off a minor ankle sprain and will be available for selection, although he is unlikely to play a huge role in the match.

Portuguese midfielder Maniche, meanwhile, has left for Serie A giants Internazionale after agreeing on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Abbiati - Perea, Pablo, Eller, Pernía - Maxi (c), Motta, Raúl Garcia, Simão - Forlán, Agüero

Real Madrid

Schuster will once again have to rely on a modified defence with Christoph Metzelder and Gabriel Heinze still ruled out with injuries while Pepe has been rated as highly doubtful for the clash as he struggles to shrug off an Achilles tendon niggle.

With Sergio Ramos expected to deputize in the centre of defence, Miguel Torres and Michel Salgado will fight for the rightback slot, although the veteran could be favoured to start in order to give the side a more attacking impetus down the flank.

Back up striker Javier Saviola has joined fellow fringe players Roberto Soldado and Javier Balboa in the sick bay, although the pair has resumed light training on the pitch, as has Arjen Robben. Mahamadou Diarra, meanwhile is away on international duty with Mali in the African Cup of Nations.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Casillas - Salgado/Torres, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo - Sneijder, Gago, Baptista - Raúl (c), van Nistelrooy, Robinho

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlético Madrid - Sergio Agüero

The Calderón's new golden boy took less than 60 seconds in the reverse fixture on Matchday 1 to score his very first derbi goal, although he would have gladly traded that off for a win instead. He'll be given a second chance to get a taste of both this Sunday and El Kun is as fired up as any die hard Atléti player and fan ahead of the clash. He'll need to be if he is to beat a certain in-form Los Blancos goalie.

Real Madrid - Ruud van Nistelrooy

Van Gol promptly repaid the club's contract extension with a winning double against Levante last Sunday. After a slow start to the season where he briefly handed goalscoring duties to the likes of Sneijder, Raúl and Robinho, the Dutchman is now firing on all cylinders again having netted five times in his last five league games and when he's got that momentum going, it's pretty hard to put the brakes on him.

MY PREDICTION

Real Madrid's morale would have taken a knock after their Copa del Rey elimination, but they truly relish going up against sides like Atlético, who come out and play instead of parking the team bus infront of the goal. If Javier Aguirre do decide to fight fire with fire and leave the backline exposed, Schuster will feel confident that his side can emulate three of their best away results so far this term: at Villarreal, Valencia and Barcelona.

Atlético Madrid 1-3 Real Madrid

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