The Madrid derby is always a momentous game, but Saturday night’s early-season encounter between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid already seems like it could be influential in the destination of the La Liga trophy.
Atletico make the short trip across the city just two points behind their rivals, who are level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table, and players on both sides know that the derby offers a chance to strike an early blow in the title race.
Here’s a look at the key player battles that could determine the derby.
GARETH BALE V ANTONIO GRIEZMANN
It’s safe to say Gareth Bale is enjoying life without Cristiano Ronaldo. Thrust centre-stage following the Portugal talisman’s summer departure for Juventus, Bale has responded with four goals and two assists in six games this season. He’s the side’s joint-top-scorer alongside Karim Benzema – another player thriving in Ronaldo’s absence.
More than the improved statistical contribution, it’s the Welshman’s sense of responsibility and contentment that has stood out this season. Even in a disappointing 3-0 loss to Sevilla on Wednesday, Bale seemed the player most likely to make an impact for Madrid – as he’s been doing throughout this season.
Bale may have needed an injection of confidence to hit top form, but that was never going to be a problem for Antoine Griezmann as he entered the season on the back of a World Cup triumph in the summer.
He’s contributed to just as many goals as his opposite number, scoring two and assisting four, and, unlike at times last season, he looks focused and completely committed to the cause.
Atletico have strengthened this summer, but their chances of pulling off another surprise title run depend on Griezmann’s form – and Saturday marks his first chance to have a truly telling impact.
KARIM BENZEMA V DIEGO COSTA
Benzema came under a lot of criticism last season as his goals tally dropped, with the argument that his overall contribution to the side, especially the way he sacrificed in order for Madrid to get the best out of Ronaldo, beginning to wear thin in some quarters.
It’s a good thing, then, that the Frenchman has scored four times in six games this season. There should have been little doubt about his ability, his contribution has been genuinely under-appreciated in recent years, but now that he’s back among the goals, he can easily be the man who leads Madrid to more trophies.
There’s something more authentically Atletico about Diego Simeone’s side when Diego Costa is in it. Since his return to the club in January, the team has increasingly resembled the one that won La Liga in five seasons ago, largely on the back of the Brazil-born Spain forward’s goals.
Costa has yet to find the back of the net in the league this season, however, though he did score against Monaco in the Champions League. That Atletico are only two points off the pace without a goal from their forward is impressive, but a title charge won’t last like that. Costa will want to break his duck on Saturday.
SERGIO RAMOS V DIEGO GODIN
Sergio Ramos may have been named to the FIFPRO World XI this week, but his stock has fallen somewhat in recent months. His World Cup campaign as Spain’s captain ended in a disappointingly early exit, while Madrid looked bereft of leadership on Wednesday while crashing to Sevilla, Ramos’ old team.
But it’s occasions like the Madrid derby that get the best out of the centre-back. His side can ill afford a second-straight loss in a season where, early on, they’ve looked the match of Barcelona as title contenders, and that sense of responsibility should spur Ramos on.
Ramos has a kindred spirit in Atletico captain Diego Godin. Every bit the classic warrior-defender, the Uruguayan has also continued to grow in stature as a leader of his side, and having lifted the Europa League trophy last season, another league title to add to the one his side won in 2013/14 would be the icing on the cake.
He’s contributed to some dogged defensive efforts against the hated rivals Madrid in recent clashes between the two, and it’s that sort of display that Atletico need again on Saturday. If he wins his duel with Ramos, it’s likely that Atletico will win the larger war.
