La Liga - 2014/15

Comments from Raul Garcia before the match.

"Atletico know how to play against Real Madrid and we can beat them," he told Marca. "We have shown that.

"The only time in recent history where we took the wrong approach was in the Copa del Rey last season [when they were beaten 5-0 on aggregate by Real].

Despite losing star trio Thibaut Courtois, Filipe Luis and Diego Costa to Chelsea, Garcia believes that signing the likes of Mario Mandzukic, Antoine Griezmann and Alessio Cerci have actually seen Atletco strengthen.

"I think we have improved the team," he added. "We may have lost important player, but the replacements and those who remained still have plenty of hunger and ambition."


Comments from Diego Simeone before the match.

Simeone revealed he has motivated by praise from Real Madrid fans ahead of Saturday's derby at Santiago Bernabeu.

Simeone guided Atletico Madrid to the Liga title against the odds last season and also led his side to the Champions League final - which Real won after extra-time.

The former Argentina international wrote off Atletico's chances of retaining their title at the start of the current campaign, but said praise from Real fans has given him extra motivation as the Spanish champions prepare to renew their rivalries with Carlo Ancelotti's side.

"Beyond what happens during a football match, a lot of Real fans have congratulated me and value my hard work. That helps me to continue progressing and improving." Simeone told Clarin newspaper.

"People identified themselves with our hard work, our commitment, how we faced our difficulties and kept going through tough times.

"They could see similarities between Atletico and [Diego] Maradona's Napoli, a humble side competing against the likes of Inter, AC Milan and Juventus. We're a small-time team and that makes us likeable."

Simeone stated that he was not interested in personal plaudits on the back of what he achieved last season.

"I don't work for people's recognition. I'm not obsessed with being liked." he said.

"I play to win, I look to be competitive and I get really caught up in a player's development."
 
CLARiiON said:
Happy with many things about Barca. Few essentials like pressing higher up the pitch, playing a fast tempo, and defensively solid so far. They looked fitter than last season. The passing was bit off, few chances missed, but I would rather miss chances than creating nothing.
Messi looked much involved, happy with the new youngsters, and the coach seems to trust them a lot. Not many team would play Munir, Sandro, Montoya same day. Now I would just hope both Madrid clubs to blunt each other and get a few suspensions..
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Their attitude is great too, Lucho touched on that in the post pressy - they look fitter and focused
 
Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao; Kroos, Modric, James Rodríguez; Bale, Cristiano y Benzema.
Vs
Moyá, Juanfran, Godín, Miranda, Siqueira; Gabi, Tiago, Koke, Raúl García; Raúl Jiménez y Mandzukic

Griezmann and Arda on the bench.
 
jojojo said:
Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao; Kroos, Modric, James Rodríguez; Bale, Cristiano y Benzema.
Vs
Moyá, Juanfran, Godín, Miranda, Siqueira; Gabi, Tiago, Koke, Raúl García; Raúl Jiménez y Mandzukic

Griezmann and Arda on the bench.
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Turan was rubbish against Iceland. Clearly not fit.
 
Just now realised this is the seventh Madrid derby in 2014, mental!
 
Tiago...the older he gets, the better he plays :smirk:
 
jojojo said:
Real Madrid's record W3 D2 L2

And Atletico go 1 up
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Very even though Real won the most important one, from their point of view that is.

Well taken corner that, they are deadly on set-pieces.
 
NoLogo said:
It's a pretty even match up these days. Wasn't there a time where Atletico hadn't won against Real for 10+ years or so?
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That was at the Bernabeu, no? Not too sure myself though I cannot seem to recall many Atleti wins. Simeone has done a tremendous job to turn them around.
 
Ruht said:
Very even though Real won the most important one, from their point of view that is.

Well taken corner that, they are deadly on set-pieces.
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They are incredibly well matched now. Simeone likes these games.
 
Ruht said:
That was at the Bernabeu, no? Not too sure myself though I cannot seem to recall many Atleti wins. Simeone has done a tremendous job to turn them around.
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Yeah might actually have been Real's home record but I can't recall that much Atletico wins before Simeone arrived either. Well I think it's without question that he has done a great job with them.
 
Atlético use the corner scoring glitch from FM it seems. So many goals from corners.
 
Turan been dropped or something? I'm sure he's been on the bench for the last few matches, so can't be an injury. Surprised Griezmann is on there too. Atletico have strength in depth it seems.
 
TheShedEnd said:
Turan been dropped or something? I'm sure he's been on the bench for the last few matches, so can't be an injury. Surprised Griezmann is on there too. Atletico have strength in depth it seems.
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Didn't look fit at all against Iceland. If he's fit he's in really poor form.
 
NoLogo said:
Yeah might actually have been Real's home record but I can't recall that much Atletico wins before Simeone arrived either. Well I think it's without question that he has done a great job with them.
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Prior to 2013 they had not beaten Madrid since 1999. Simeone has done an excellent job to have turned them around and to have made them into a force to be reckoned with. Since Simeone has taken over they have beaten Madrid three times.
 
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