Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid Match Preview
Quique Sanchez Flores' Atletico visits the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday's hottest match. It's been over 10 years since Atletico lastly celebrated a victory in the Merengue stadium, where the hosts have score 12 goals in the last two Liga matches.
Colchoneros' star goalkeeper David de Gea will be turning 20 years old as he travels to the Santiago Bernabeu. The security of his gloves will be essential for Atletico as the efficiency of Jose Mourinho's strikers is truly fearsome. Karim Benzema is unlikely to make it onto the starting eleven in spite of his excellent performance in the last two games.
Atletico's coach might have to do without Colombian international Luis Perea and Diego Godin. For the first time in weeks he'll be able to deploy his whole artillery as Jose Reyes is likely to join Simao, Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero on the attack against the strongest defense in the league.
Midweek's draw at San Siro was celebrated a victory by the Merengues as their ticket for Champion League next stage is almost secured. Angel Di Maria and Cristiano Ronaldo (Liga top scorer) are in perfect form for this clash while Atletico's attackers are struggling for regularity, having just returned from their injuries.
Real Madrid has won four of the last five matches between the two teams. A victory will secure the first position from Pep Guardiola's greedy hands. A decisive game for the title and European fight, who'll win the Derby Madrileño?
Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid Match Report
Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan failed to give Colchoneros' followers an important victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, as Real Madrid would have lost the top position with anything but a victory given Barcelona sound victory. Ricardo Carvalho and Mesut Ozil gave Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid a two goal advantage in the first 20 minutes of the game.
The first goal came after a brilliant interaction between Xabi Alonso, Di Maria and Portuguese international Carvalho, who opened the score on the 12th minute. Quique Sanchez Flores' Colchoneros received a huge blow seven minutes later as Ozil surprised David De Gea on a free kick.
Atletico never gave up and Sergio Aguero (Atletico's most dangerous player without a shadow of a doubt), Jose Reyes and Diego Forlan were unable to deal with Merengues' defense, allowing Iker Casillas to end another week with a clean sheet.
It was an exciting game in which numerous scoring opportunities were created. Uruguayan international Diego Forlan was close from scoring thrice, but either Casillas or the posts denied him a goal.
Quique Sanchez Flores' left the stadium astonished, as he claims Atletico should have been granted a penalty shot as Xabi Alonso touched the ball with his arm inside the area, but referee Mateu Lahoz thought there was no intention to play the ball.
11 years unbeaten at the Bernabeu, Madrid secures the top for another week while leaving Atletico two points below the European line.
