Although it still hasn’t quite usurped El Clasico as the biggest game of the season in La Liga, the Madrid derby is fast becoming a highly addictive alternative for connoisseurs of the game in the Spanish top flight.
The frequency of the match has increased in recent years to include two Champions League finals in the last three seasons — so it’s easy to understand why this particular fixture is now vying for top billing.
This Saturday’s edition may not have European football’s crown at stake but there is still a lot riding on the outcome, particularly if you’re an Atletico Madrid supporter.
Despite their second best ever return in terms of goals scored at this stage of the campaign, for the first time in a while, Diego Simeone’s side look beatable. At Real Sociedad, all of this season’s failings were laid bare and the Argentinian will know that if his side were to lose again, they’d be nine points behind Real and, one would assume, out of the title race before Christmas.
However, the match is at the Vicente Calderon and Real haven’t triumphed there in their last six matches in all competitions. Furthermore, Los Blancos injury crisis threatens to overwhelm them at a crucial point in the campaign.
Toni Kroos is out until the new year, while Casemiro, Pepe and Sergio Ramos are desperately trying to get fit in time to start this game.
Zinedine Zidane has expertly steered the ship to this point but with away fixtures at Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla following their short trip across town, the need to pick up maximum points here is obvious.
Moreover, should Barca win at home to Malaga and the Rojiblancos continue their excellent recent home record against Real, Zidane’s side would actually end the weekend in second, with El Clasico — at the Camp Nou — to come in a fortnight.
The permutations therefore are many.
Cristiano Ronaldo has the chance to hammer home his candidacy for this year’s Ballon d’Or but hasn’t been at his best of late. A bumper new five-year deal ought to put a spring in his step but he’ll still need to up his game if he wants to get any change out of Diego Godin et al.
Likewise, Antoine Griezmann — if indeed he is fit following his foot injury for France — and fellow French strike partner Kevin Gameiro need to come up big in the crucial moments for Atleti to be anywhere close to taking the three points.
The hosts’ best chance of success in the game should come via Yannick Carrasco’s raiding, and should Simeone decide to have him marshalling Marcelo’s channel it hampers the Brazilian’s chances in getting forward and affecting the play in the way he has done so well this season.
For the visitors, Gareth Bale is in the form of his life and has carried the side often this season. The Welshman can absolutely be the danger man again here.
Rumours continue to swirl that Simeone could be on his way to Inter. Lose again here and he might just think he’s taken the team as far as he can.
It’s yet another subplot to underscore what promises to be an epic encounter.