Breaking Atletico Madrid’s recent stranglehold is the challenge facing Coach Zinedine Zidane ahead of Saturday’s Madrid derby, the last at the Vicente Calderon stadium.
This is a fixture that used to be a foregone conclusion for Real Madrid, but not any more.
Real enjoyed utter domination over their rivals for 14 years but the tables have turned and they have not won a league derby since Jose Mourinho oversaw a 2-1 win at the Calderon in 2013.
Atletico have won four and drawn two of the last six league derbies.
This is one demonstration of how charismatic Argentine coach, Diego Simeone, has transformed the fortunes of the sleeping giant he took over in December, 2011.
“He is a coach with a unique capacity to communicate, that’s why he has got where he is. It is also why he was able to dig us out of the trouble we were in,” said Atletico captain, Gabi, who has won the La Liga title, King’s Cup and reached two Champions League finals under Simeone.
Gabi added: “With one look or gesture he’s able to speak to any player, and that’s why at the moment the most important thing for this club is the fact that we have Simeone with us.”
Real still have the upper hand on their neighbours in European competition.
Saturday’s game is the first meeting between the teams since Real’s penalty shootout victory in the Champions League final last May.
The game takes on extra-significance for being the last league derby at the Vicente Calderon stadium with Atletico due to move from the 50-year-old ground to a new 67,000 capacity arena next year.
Gabi noted: “That it will be the last derby at the Calderon makes it exciting and special. It will be strange not to experience it there again, as we have had unforgettable moments there.”
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