The Madrid derby returns this Saturday as Atletico Madrid prepare to face arch-rivals Real Madrid in a high-stakes La Liga clash that could shape their season. Simeone’s team trail the league leaders by nine points after just six games, and another setback could end their title chase before it truly begins.
Their most recent encounter ended in heartbreak. In March’s Champions League round of 16, Atletico were knocked out following Julian Alvarez’s controversially disallowed penalty, ruled a double touch. The fallout from that decision lingered, and their campaign unraveled soon after.
Simeone’s Mission and Atletico’s Ambitious Summer
Diego Simeone, who recently became the longest-serving manager in La Liga history since taking over in 2011, has overseen the club’s golden era — two league titles and two Champions League final appearances. Yet, since lifting the domestic trophy in 2021, the team has struggled to maintain those heights.
“The team needs to evolve to the height the club has,” admitted Simeone in August.
Determined to compete again, Atletico invested over €175 million this summer on new signings such as Alex Baena, David Hancko, and Thiago Almada. Their goal is clear — to close the gap at the top. “We want to recover in the best way we can,” said Simeone after a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory over Rayo Vallecano.
“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.”
Mbappe Leads Real Madrid’s Perfect Start
Under new coach Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid have been flawless so far, winning all six league matches. Another victory would see Alonso equal Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s 2005 record of seven consecutive league wins. Central to that success is Kylian Mbappe, who has dominated the scoring charts with seven goals and continues to deliver decisive performances.
Atletico, in contrast, have lacked sharpness up front, though Julian Alvarez offered hope with a stunning hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano, taking his tally to four goals. “Julian is the best player that we have. We need to look after him, so he stays many years here at Atletico,” said 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.”
What’s at Stake in the Title Race
Second-placed Barcelona will also be keeping a close watch. They face Real Sociedad on Sunday and will be eager for Real Madrid to drop points to narrow the current two-point gap.
Elsewhere, Georges Mikautadze is a player to keep an eye on as Villarreal take on Athletic Bilbao. The Georgian forward is beginning to find form and could play a key role in their push for European qualification.
As Madrid braces for another intense derby, Simeone’s side know that victory could spark a resurgence. But if they fall again, their hopes of competing for the La Liga title might fade long before winter.
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