Madrid Derby: Ancelotti, Simone expecting a “Special Sunday’’ evening of great football
There is little doubt that the big game in matchday
six of the 2023-24 La Liga season is the Madrid derby. Real Madrid make the short trip across town to the Civitas Metropolitano on Sunday evening, where they will face bitter rivals Atletico Madrid.
The occasion is always an enthralling one when the two teams meet, and Sunday will be no different. Real Madrid go into the match with a 100% win record, having won all six of their matches so far this season. However, Atletico have won each of their last 10 matches at home.
One man who is relishing the match is Carlo Ancelotti. Speaking in his pre-match press conference (via Diario AS), the Italian expects the fixture to be a blockbuster one between two fantastic teams.
“The Madrid derby is always a special game. There is a lot of quality between the two rivals. It will be a very nice match to watch.”
Not many with disagree with Ancelotti’s sentiments, and Real Madrid will hope that they can come out on top against their local rivals, which would extend their excellent start to the season.
Ancelotti’s opposite, Diego Simeone hopes that the referee is in for a quieter evening (via Diario AS).
“We are worried about the game, not the refereeing. The referee must be left alone – he is a great referee, I think it is his first derby. He will face it with the expectation of doing well, just like the players.”
On the match itself, Simeone expressed confidence in getting a good result, following on from the good performance against Lazio in midweek.
“It is an important league match, which we have to prepare for in the best way. The Champions League is behind us and we hope to follow the line of the game in Rome, which was good in my opinion.
“We will face an opponent who is very good, very strong, very sure of what they do. It will be tough, difficult, like all the matches we play against Real Madrid.”
Atletico Madrid have an imperious record of late at the Metropolitano – having won their last 10 matches – and they will hope to carry that on against Real Madrid, although it will be far from easy.
