The El Derbi Madrileno

It will be the clash of titans at Santiago Bernabeu, when host Real Madrid take on the high flying Atletico Madrid for a derby clash in a late night kick off on Saturday. Real Madrid will look to register a win against the home rivals and move up in the table, but Athletico Madrid will be a tough opposition and are unbeaten and have won all of their six league matches so far in the season. Diego Simeone’s Atletico will be buoyed by last season’s memorable 2-1 Copa del Rey final victory against Real in the same stadium, the first victory for the club against their bitter city rivals in any competition in 14 years. Atletico’s triumph was particularly sweet for their long-suffering fans as it left Real without major silverware. With their perfect Liga record still intact this term, the Rojiblancos will be striving to get one over the third-placed Merengues.

Good news for Madrid is that record signing Gareth Bale is all set make his home debut as he is expected to start the game along with talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo on the wings to breach the relatively weaker defence of Simeone’s team. Considering the recent form of Los Blancos, they aren’t in the groove of winning habits as they have not been convincing in their wins this season. The addition of Gareth Bale to tomorrow’s match should provide a new dimension to their attack because he will add extra pace and power to the offensive line and make the oppositions worry about the defence line.

On the other hand, Atletico Madrid will look to repeat the results of last derby encounter in the final of Copa del Rey. Lately the Atletico team are in imperious form in the league with the help of Diego Costa who has found the back of the net seven times in six games. Also the arrival of experienced striker David Villa has boosted the forward region of the team.

Real Madrid and Atletico are clubs with contrasting identities and very different fates, a divide similar to other crosstown football rivalries such as theManchester derby and Milan derby, but far more political. Historically, Real Madrid have long been seen as the establishment club. On the other side, Atletico were always characterized by a sense of rebellion. The team plying their trade at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in the north of the Spanish capital, have amassed a glittering haul of trophies which bear witness to years of domestic and international success. Atletico’s title collection may pale in comparison with that of their glamorous neighbours, but the club take pride in their reputation as standard-bearers for Madrid’s working-class population. Their stadium, the Vicente Calderon, can be found over in the south of the city on the banks on the Manzanares River. Real Madrid draws greater support because of its successes, while Atletico has a more working class fan base, which comes particularly from the south of the city.

The rivalry finds its root in 1905, when the two sides came face to face in a friendly. In the years that followed the Madrid derby became as much a clash of values as a sporting rivalry, and whenever these two irreconcilable foes meet, the Spanish capital comes to a standstill and gets submerged in the emotions associated with the El Derbi Madrileno.