Carlo Ancelotti and Diego Simeone are in agreement on one key point ahead of tonight’s enthralling Madrid derby between their respective sides at the Bernabeu: Real are the better team.
Madrid boss Ancelotti responded tetchily to suggestions that Atletico are currently looking a more effective unit after starting the season with six consecutive league wins, saying: “I don’t think you can say they are a better team or that they are favourites. They are more aggressive and physically stronger than us, but we have more quality.”
Simeone was happy to concur on the eve of the fixture, conceding superiority to his cross-town rivals in the same way he habitually does on the eve of any meeting with Real or Barcelona.
“They are better than us and we’ll have to play at 110 per cent to get anything from the game,” said the Argentine boss. “They have a great coach and great players who can be decisive at any moment. I imagine they will have a lot of possession.”
– Andy West: Diligent Simeone has transformed Atletico into a model of consistency
A hugely emotive talking point ahead of the game has been the quality of refereeing in La Liga, following Real’s enormously controversial injury time match-winning penalty against Elche on Wednesday night.
The referee on that already-infamous occasion, Cesar Muniz Fernandez, has been indefinitely removed from La Liga’s list of match officials, and all eyes will now be upon tonight’s man in the middle, Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
Ancelotti expressed his hope that Mateu Lahoz will not allow himself to be affected by the furore, adding: “It will be a high-pressure game but I don’t believe the referee will be conditioned by what happened at Elche. I prefer to think that referees, like players, sometimes just make mistakes.”
The Italian was more concerned about his team’s level of performance, which was distinctly substandard on Wednesday. “We will play with a different spirit,” he promised. “We understand where we went wrong against Elche and I’m sure we will play well. The group is very motivated.”
Ancelotti’s main selection decision is whether to select Gareth Bale in the starting eleven if he passes a late fitness test. The Welsh star was due to make his home debut last weekend against Getafe but had to pull out after suffering a minor thigh strain during the warm-up, and Ancelotti may be tempted to restrict him to the bench following Angel Di Maria’s good run of form.
Despite his positioning of the hosts as favourites, Simeone is certainly not ready to hand over the three points to the hosts, refusing to accept that Real’s 23-game La Liga unbeaten run against Atletico will be a factor. “This is a new game and we will go there in good form and with the belief we can do well,” he added.
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