Simeone’s Atletico face early Real reckoning in Madrid derby

The final time these groups met was in March within the Champions League final 16, when Atletico had been eradicated after Julian Alvarez’s controversially disallowed shoot-out penalty.

The Rojiblancos seethed for weeks concerning the incident, with Alvarez dominated to have double-kicked the ball, and their season quickly flew off the rails. Perhaps they’ve by no means totally recovered since.

Atletico arrive on the Madrid derby, six video games into the season, already trailing their league-leading opponents by 9 factors.

If they fall to a defeat by Xabi Alonso’s Los Blancos, who boast a 100% report up to now, a title problem already appears unlikely.

Atletico spent massive in the summertime, signing Alex Baena, David Hancko and Thiago Almada amongst others, for a complete of greater than 175 million euros .

“We want to recover in the best way we can,” mentioned Simeone after his crew got here from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 in an exciting conflict on Wednesday.

“We will have a really hard, difficult game against a side that has been winning all their games and who have a tonne of very good players in their squad.”

Simeone this week turned the coach who has spent the longest time in control of a La Liga membership, having arrived in December 2011.

Helping Atletico to succeed in two Champions League finals each misplaced towards Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016 in addition to successful two La Liga titles, Simeone has taken the membership to their highest moments.

Unfortunately over the previous few seasons, since they received La Liga in 2021, the crew have fallen from their peak.

“The team needs to evolve to the height the club has,” admitted Simeone in August.

Rivals Real Madrid are searching for evolution too, with Alonso arriving in the summertime to interchange Carlo Ancelotti.

The Spaniard can match Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s report of seven straight league wins firstly of a season set in 2005 if Los Blancos emerge on prime this weekend.

The predominant pressure behind Madrid’s glorious outcomes is celebrity striker Kylian Mbappe, who leads the scoring charts with seven. The France worldwide ended final season in wealthy kind and has continued that into the brand new marketing campaign.

Atletico, against this, lacked finesse in entrance of purpose till Alvarez netted the primary hat-trick of his profession towards Rayo to climb to 4 league targets.

“Julian is the best player that we have. We need to look after him, so he stays many years here at Atletico,” mentioned Simeone.

“He has to help us and we have to help him, so he gets even better than he currently is. Each time he scores he makes the difference, he helps us so much.”

Second-placed Barcelona host Real Sociedad on Sunday on the Olympic stadium, hoping Real Madrid drop factors to allow them to shut the two-point hole to the highest.

Player to observe: Georges Mikautadze

The Georgian striker is beginning to discover his footing at Villarreal following his transfer on the finish of the summer season switch window.

Mikautadze might be essential for the Yellow Submarine after they face Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, in a battle between two sides who anticipate to complete within the higher echelons of the desk.

Key stats

3 – groups nonetheless searching for their first win of the season Celta Vigo, Mallorca and Girona

5 – league video games in a row that Celta Vigo have drawn 1-1

20 – Real Betis’ Giovani Lo Celso is probably the most fouled participant within the league

Fixtures

Friday

Girona v Espanyol

Saturday

Getafe v Levante , Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid , Mallorca v Alaves , Villarreal v Athletic Bilbao

Sunday

Rayo Vallecano v Sevilla , Elche v Celta Vigo , Barcelona v Real Sociedad , Real Betis v Osasuna

Monday

Valencia v Real Oviedo

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