Coach Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid expressed his displeasure on Tuesday about facing Atletico Madrid, their bitter rivals, three times in less than a month.
Los Blancos play Diego Simeone’s Atletico on Wednesday in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal in Riyadh. They also play each other again the following week in the Copa del Rey semifinal and in early February in La Liga.
With a 3-1 league victory against Real Madrid in September in the derby at their Metropolitano stadium, Atletico became the only side this season to defeat Real Madrid across all competitions.
“We have to play this game, we have to face Atletico Madrid again, the calendar is what it is,” Ancelotti said during a press conference.
“Being one of the top teams, Atletico is always difficult to play, therefore I don’t enjoy playing them, but Atletico will be thinking the same thing.
“We are two strong teams and it will be complicated, but I think the fans will enjoy these fixtures, both Real Madrid and Atletico fans.”
Despite the fact that Atletico has now gone on a 19-match winning streak, Ancelotti said that his team was injured by their victory against Madrid this season.
“The reality is that we suffered a great deal of damage in our most recent game against Atletico,” Ancelotti said.
“I think tomorrow we can put a better version of ourselves out there than in our first match against Atletico Madrid.”
Prior to this season’s triumph, Atletico had only triumphed once in their preceding 14 La Liga encounters versus Real Madrid.
In the 2020 Spanish Super Cup final—the first ever held in Saudi Arabia—Real Madrid also triumphed against Atletico.
Deep into extra time, Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde was sent off for tripping over Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata as he was running through on goal. This forced his side to penalty kicks, which they won.
Telling reporters, “I’d do it (again), if it’s for the team,” Valverde said.
“If we’re losing 3-0 then there’s no sense in it, in that final we were battling it out, it was hard-fought… if that was the scoreline again, I’d do it again.”
“Mentally destroyed”
Despite the physical toll it puts on the players, Rodrigo de Paul, a midfielder for Atletico Madrid, expressed his happiness to play Los Blancos in the derby tripleheader.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing the best teams, and Madrid are one of them,” De Paul said.
“Obviously this fixture leads to being worn down mentally and physically a lot, but (Madrid derbies) always have their negatives and positives — I’ll appreciate being able to face one of the best teams.”
Simeone said that the match at the Al-Awwal stadium was unaffected by Atletico’s victory against Madrid in September.
“Madrid had some players who couldn’t play, and they will be there tomorrow … that was another game, in another moment,” said Simeone.
“We will prepare to play this one in the way we think is apt for this moment.”
Vinicius Junior, a crucial Madrid attacker, was out due to an injury during the Atletico match, but he has recovered from a thigh issue in recent weeks and is expected to play on Wednesday.
holders of the Spanish Super Cup On Thursday, Barcelona takes on Osasuna in the other semifinal match.