Real Madrid travel to the home of their capital neighbours Atletico Madrid for Sunday night’s derby in La Liga.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side snagged a sixth consecutive victory across all competitions courtesy of yet another late winner sniffed out by Jude Bellingham against Union Berlin on Wednesday night.
However, no one in the capital, least of all Ancelotti, will be getting too carried away. It was only last year that Madrid won their first nine matches before ending the campaign without a La Liga or Champions League title to show for their fast start.
Here’s the lineup Ancelotti may deploy for the all-important derby.
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga – The former Athletic Club goalkeeper lost all three of his previous appearances with Atletico (a club formed by Athletic fans based in Madrid), conceding seven goals in the process.
RB: Lucas Vazquez – With Dani Carvajal out until October, Vazquez is an experienced alternative at full-back.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – The centre-back’s up-close-and-personal approach to man-marking tempted Angel Correa into a red card during the most recent Madrid derby.
CB: David Alaba – Yet to lose a Madrid derby, Alaba was part of a Bayern Munich team that got knocked out of the Champions League semi-finals against Atletico in 2016. Real Madrid were waiting in the final.
LB: Fran Garcia – Real Madrid’s returning youth team player has never beaten – or even kept a clean sheet against – Atletico at senior level.
CM: Federico Valverde – After winning his wager with Ancelotti last season, Valverde insists that there is no new bet with the coach regarding his goalscoring contribution in the current campaign – which may be lucky, considering he has mustered one from six appearances this term.
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – Citing NBA icons Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, Tchouameni gushed: “I watch videos of them, legends who got the best from themselves, who perfected their play. You can’t ever rest: you have to do everything.”
CM: Toni Kroos – The outspoken midfielder made his views on the expansion of the Saudi Pro League – which claimed his former teammate Karim Benzema – abundantly clear this summer. “It has been said that the football there is ambitious,” Kroos scoffed. “But it all revolves around money. In the end, it is a decision for money and against football.”
AM: Jude Bellingham – Bellingham-mania has spread beyond the Real Madrid fanbase; after scoring twice for the capital side against Almeria in August, Bellingham was stopped on multiple occasions by police officers asking for a photograph after the match – he happily posed for the selfies.
ST: Joselu – Madrid’s Espanyol loanee scored in a remarkable comeback against Atletico last May, overturning a 0-3 deficit in less than half an hour.
ST: Rodrygo – With his compatriot Vinicius Junior sidelined through injury, Rodrygo’s importance to Madrid’s attack has swollen. Explaining the difference between his two Brazilians, Ancelotti said: “He’s a different player to Vinicius Junior, less talented maybe. But he’s very intelligent without the ball and he’s skilled at being in the right place at the right moment.”
