Real Madrid Look To Continue Streak In City Derby

1999.  It was a time of excitement and uncertainty in the world.  The 20th century was coming to an end and the world was closer to flying cars and Y2K.  Seems like a lifetime since all of this happened. 

Wow, if you sit back and think about what has happened since that year you just say, “Damn, I’m getting old.”

A little kid was in Rosario getting ready to move to Barcelona while a 13-year-old kid in Madeira was starting to turn heads and Andorinhas would pick him up.

Whoever knew that after Bizarri would be sent off in the second half and give way to one of the greatest goalkeepers in Spanish football history?  That stop by Iker Casillas on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, preventing him from scoring a hat-trick, would be the beginning of a great career for the Eagle of Mostolés. 

That 3-1 win was one of the lone bright spots for the Colchoneros as they had higher priorities such as survival.  It was a relief as well as curse for them to beat Real Madrid.  In the end a team with players like Hasselbaink,  Kiko, Paunovic, Pilipauskas,  Toni, and José Chamot would not be saved by either Claudio Ranieri or Radomir Antic that year. 

John Toshack’s second stint at Real Madrid would end just two weeks after this match and Vicente Del Bosque would take over for a third time.  His era would be one of the most successful in club history as they would win two Champions Leagues, two league titles, a Spanish Supercup, a European Super Cup, and an Intercontinental Cup.  All of this went on while Atlético battled to stay in the top flight and fought week in and week out to get back up.

Fast forward to 2011 and Real Madrid have owned them ever since.  Atlético have had some great teams and have not been able to knock off Madrid even at their most vulnerable.  It has become a curse and in this edition of the Madrid derby there is an extra dose of drama added to this especially after just facing off just two and a half months ago in the quarters of the Copa del Rey.  The Merengues kept up the hegemony over their crosstown rivals with a 4-1 aggregate win those advancing eventually to the finals against Barcelona over in Mestalla in five weeks time. 

One thing that gives hope to Atlético fans is that faint hope that the most inspired Colchonero side comes out against Real.  It is sometimes hoping against hope, but if that is something that gives a fan base a chance to get pumped for a rivalry game... then so be it.  The fact that the come into this match unbeaten in their last five is not a reason to be confident.  In fact they the results are not indicative, save for the win against Villarreal of a team deserving to be in the fight for any honors. 

Atlético know full well that a loss here virtually takes them out o any European competition.  Atlético find themselves currently in seventh place, three points behind Athletic for the final European spot.  Doesn't seem like it is so impossible to overcome.  The problem is that Sevilla are in a good run of form and they will be facing a shaky Valencia side, could see yet another team surpass them if they do not play the perfect match. 

Madrid in the meantime are coming off a big win against Lyon in the Champions League and it looks like the swagger is back for Jose Mourinho's side especially after seeing Barcelona's lead cut to five.  Madrid will most likely bring in a full squad to this matchup especially after Cristiano Ronaldo played over 74 minutes midweek.

His recovery session after Wednesday's match gave the coaching staff that CR7 could play he entire match, but Mourinho is still hesitant to have him do so in an effort to have him fully recover and not exacerbate the condition.

Also Gonzalo Higuaín began practicing again for Los Merengues.  The Argentine international is shooting to be ready for the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona according to the club.  After the Madrid derby, Ronaldo has to go report for international duty when Portugal face both Chile and Finland. 

If Ronaldo doesn't play, there should be little worry.  Their only two matches without the Portuguese international went just fine. Karim Benzema has finally emerged as a go-to player or Madrid and Emanuel Adebayor has also played very well.  Benzema is on fire currently scoring seven goals in his last five matches.

Probables:

Atlético: De Gea, Ujfalusi, Perea, Godín, Filipe Luis; Reyes, Suárez, Elías, Tiago, Agüero, Forlán

Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo; Khedira, Alonso, Di María, Özil, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema

LAST FIVE

Atlético

D- @ Almería 2-2

W- vs. Villarreal 3-1

D- @ Getafe 1-1

D- vs. Sevilla 2-2

W- @ Zaragoza 0-1

Real Madrid

W- vs. Lyon 3-0 (Champions League)

W- vs. Hércules 2-0

W- @ Racing  1-3

W- vs. Málaga 7-0

D- @ Deportivo 0-0