The return of Vinícius for tonight's derby at the Metropolitano, a month after the Brazilian's injury and two weeks earlier than expected, is the best news for a Real Madrid that is going from victory to victory (six out of six this season ) against an Atlético that is not going through a good moment. The colchoneros were beaten in their last league game (3-0 at Mestalla against Valencia) and were tied (1-1) in their debut in the Champions League in Rome against Lazio, with a goal from the local goalkeeper in the 94th minute.
The League has only five games, six with today's, but if the whites win they would already take eleven points from Atlético, a considerable distance, although the latter have one less game because their match against Sevilla was suspended.
As in every derby, the expectation is maximum. In this case, it is worth remembering that in the last one at the Metropolitano there were many racist insults to Vinícius, both on and off the field, in addition to the usual ones to Courtois for his past in the house (the Belgian goalkeeper will not be there due to injury). The Vinícius doll, which appeared on January 26 hanging from a bridge with the message “Madrid hates Real”, is another of these racist episodes. Carlo Ancelotti believes that now there will be a better atmosphere: “After Valencia something has changed. I think that in the Metropolitan everything will be more calm, serene and respectful.”
For the match, Madrid has Jude Bellingham, its lethal weapon, scorer of six goals already. In only one game this season has he gone without scoring, against Real Sociedad. The Englishman did not complete training on Friday due to stomach problems, but yesterday he was seen reintegrated into the group and everything remained an anecdote.
Madrid also has Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy recovered, but not Dani Carvajal, nor the long-term players: Arda Güler, Courtois and Militão. The Turk will train with the group next week; The other two, meniscus surgery, are going long.
At Atlético, Diego Simeone complained again this week about the calendar and used Pep Guardiola to associate the excess of games with the high number of injuries. Koke returns to his team, but Söyüncü, Reinildo, De Paul, Lemar and youth player Barrios are absent.
Simeone has been there for eleven seasons now (he is by far the longest-serving coach in LaLiga) and is proud of what he has done: "In all these years we have competed well with Madrid and Barça." He is convinced to continue in that line. However, the league derby has not been good lately. Atlético has only won one of the last fourteen, the one two seasons ago in their field, when Madrid appeared at the Metropolitano as League champions. It is so far their only league defeat in the new Colchonero stadium.
