Preview: Atlético Madrid v Real Madrid

Real Madrid will look to maintain their impressive recent record against city rivals Atlético Madrid when the two sides clash tonight at the Vincente Calderón.

Real have not lost at the Vicente Calderón for 10 years and have won four and drawn one of their last five league visits.

Atlético have managed just one win from their nine Primera Division games which lead to coach Abel Resino being replaced with Quique Sánchez Flores on October 23.

Under their new coach Atlético produced an impressive 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the Champions League mid-week and Real veteran striker Raúl admits they will be in for a tough game.

“It is always complicated to play at the Calderón,” Raúl said. “Atlético have improved with their new coach.

“They deserved to win against Chelsea and they are more confident now despite their Champions League elimination.”

Raúl has been reduced to substitute appearances in Madrid’s last two games but insisted he had no problems with the decisions of coach Manuel Pellegrini.

“I am just another player on this squad,” said the 32-year-old. “I have to work. I can’t complain about the season I’ve had so far.

“I believe the team as a whole is what really matters and we have improved of late. We must focus on our games against Atlético and Alcorcón [in the Copa del Rey].

“I don’t know [if I will play tomorrow]. The coach will decide. The team responded well in the last two games, but one must always be ready and be in optimum form in order to make good use of any chances one may get.

“All my team-mates are doing a great job and I wish to play.

“The coach knows exactly what he wants, but this is a new project and it’s hard for things to work out right at the start of it. We have to polish some aspects of our game, but we are doing a great job and I’m sure we’ll soon improve.”

Real will be without foward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been ruled out for another two weeks with an ankle injury.

Atlético winger Simão Sabrosa has mixed feelings about compatriot Ronaldo’s absence with Portugal’s two-legged World Cup play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina looming later this month.

“Cristiano was the best player in the world last year but Real Madrid can’t just depend on one man,” he told the club’s website.

“It’s important for my country that he recovers from his injury.”

Simão believes the draw against Chelsea, which saw Sergio Agüero score two superb goals against the English Premier League leaders, will have given his side a major boost ahead of the derby.

“Against Chelsea we did everything, we fought and the fans were on our side,” he said.

“Together we are stronger and, even though we are in a difficult period, we believe in ourselves and we know we have what it takes to win on Saturday.”

Team sheets:

REAL MADRID:

ATLÉTICO MADRID:

GOALKEEPERS:  Asenjo, De Gea.
DEFENDERS: Valera, Antonio López, Ujfalusi, Álvaro Domínguez, Perea, Pablo Ibáñez.
MIDFIELDERS: Ignacio Camacho, Raúl García, Jurado, Maxi Rodríguez, Reyes, Simão, Cléber Santana.
STRIKERS: Forlán, Kun Agüero, Sinama-Pongolle.

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