December 12, (THEWILL) – Diego Simeone has dismissed claims that Atletico Madrid’s La Liga title aspirations will be dashed if they lose Sunday’s derby to Real Madrid.
Atletico Madrid, the reigning champions, are behind 10 points to their city rivals, despite having a game in hand. It is a crucial point in the season for both clubs, according to Simeone, and a win for Real at the Santiago Bernabeu would be a significant step towards the title.
However, Simeone, who confirmed striker Luis Suarez’s participation following a midweek injury scare, is unwilling to give up at this stage of the season.
“As always we are quick to say that La Liga is over,” Simeone said. “La Liga will always be competitive because there are very good teams.
“There is a group of five or six teams in the upper part that are working very well. We are going to go game by game as ever, and we are not going to change that.”
This will be the 169th meeting between Real and Atletico in La Liga, with Real winning 89 times and the Rojoblancos winning 39 times.
Real has gone undefeated in their last five La Liga home games against Atletico, winning two and drawing three, keeping three clean sheets in the process.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side has never had four consecutive shutouts against Atletico Madrid at home, but that is what they will be aiming for in La Liga’s weekend’s main event.
In all competitions, Atletico has not won any of their last seven meetings against Real Madrid, having drawn four and lost three, which is their longest such winless streak in the rivalry under Simeone.
Ancelotti, who is in charge of Madrid for the second time this season, has lost his previous four La Liga games versus Atletico, with one draw and three losses.
“We are going to play a very important game, as it always is against our rival,” said Simeone in a Saturday news conference. “They are in a great spell as they have shown since the arrival of Ancelotti, with a defensive strength that enhances all their offensive weapons. We will have to take the game where we think we can hurt them.”
Despite the former Barcelona striker hobbling off in pain early in Tuesday’s triumph against Porto, Simeone may easily call on Suarez to start if he wants a fighting presence in his side.
Suarez appeared to have suffered a significant muscular injury for much of the game, only for medical checks thereafter to give him the all-clear.
“Tomorrow he will be there, and we will assess whether he starts or comes on later,” Simeone said.
Since his debut in Spain seven years ago, Suarez has scored 10 goals in 13 La Liga matches versus Real Madrid, which is more than any other player in the competition.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
