Playing at home and having a physical advantage, coach Diego Simeone and his team have the opportunity to repay Real Madrid’s debt after an upset loss in the Spanish Super Cup a week ago.
FORCE
– ATLETICO MADRID: Vitolo and Thomas Lemar absent due to injury; Reinildo Mandava attends AFCON; The possibilities of Memphis Depay and Pablo Barrios to play are left open.
– REAL MADRID: Lucas Vazquez, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois absent due to injury; Rodrygo’s ability to play is left open.
FORM AND CONFRONTATION
– At home, Atletico Madrid won 19/20 recent matches in all competitions.
– Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 20 matches in all competitions.
– Atletico Madrid has only won 2 of the last 10 Madrid derbies in all competitions.
During the first days of the new year, fans continuously witnessed the most exciting matches of Spanish football. A week ago, Atletico Madrid met Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup held in Saudi Arabia. After 120 minutes, Diego Simeone’s team lost with a score of 3-5, sadly watching their rival enter the final.
In that match, Atletico Madrid played not bad, even somewhat dominant. In the official 90 minutes, Rojiblancos took the lead twice but in the end still allowed Real Madrid to equalize 3-3 and go into extra time. With 30 minutes of extra play, Carlo Ancelotti’s students played more enthusiastically and scored 2 more goals to send their opponents home.
One week after that sudden defeat, Atletico Madrid had a chance to get revenge when they reunited with their rival in the 1/8 round of Copa del Rey (Spain’s King’s Cup). It can be said that this could not be a better time for Simeone’s army to repay their opponents. The reason is because they play at home and have a clear physical advantage.
First, the holy land of Civitas Metropolitano is the invincible place of Atletico Madrid. In the last 20 matches in all competitions that took place at this stadium, Antoine Griezmann and his teammates won 19. The only match they did not win was a 3-3 draw with Getafe in the middle of last month. But it was a match in which Simeone’s students played very subjectively. They led 3-1 until the 87th minute and let the opponent score 2 consecutive goals in the last few minutes.
Real Madrid is actually not too overwhelming in terms of head-to-head performance. In the last 10 Madrid derbies in all arenas, the Royal team won 4, drew 4 and lost 2 (in 90 minutes). Notably, in the last 3 trips to Civitas Metropolitano Stadium, Ancelotti’s teachers and students returned empty-handed twice.
Second, Real Madrid has a big physical disadvantage in tomorrow morning’s match. 3 days ago, they just struggled to defeat Barcelona 4-1 in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Winning the championship, coach Ancelotti and his team naturally had to take time to celebrate. Not to mention, they also have to sit on a plane for many hours to travel from the Middle East to their hometown.
History has witnessed that Madrid derbies often take place very dramatically, harshly and physically. With a week of rest, Atletico Madrid can fully unleash their strength right after the opening whistle like they did in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup. Just by adjusting the defense, it will not be difficult for Simeone’s teachers and students to take revenge on their city rivals.
In La Liga, Atletico Madrid is at a disadvantage in the championship race. After half way, Rojiblancos is only ranked 5th, 10 and 11 points behind Real Madrid and Girona respectively, so there are not many opportunities left for them to compete. Therefore, Simeone’s teachers and students have even more reason to focus on defeating Real Madrid tomorrow morning and fight for the Copa del Rey title.
In terms of force, Real Madrid up to now still does not have the services of four defensive pillars: Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez due to injury. This makes it difficult for Los Blancos to keep a clean sheet. In the last 5 appearances in cup arenas, they conceded a total of 9 goals and did not have a clean sheet in any match. That is another basis to believe in victory for Atletico Madrid!
PREDICTION: Atletico Madrid wins 3-1