Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone will host Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane at Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday for a full season, with both teams facing head-to-head over the Spanish Championship and as we get closer to the final line-up, a win in the upcoming derby is equally important in the grass fight. , Also on the lines.
Back to history
Zidane and Simeone have met 13 times as coaches in the Madrid derby and once as players, with the two having a long history of rivalry with each other, ever since on their turf. Beyond the Spanish capital, they also faced each other eight more times during their days in Italy, where Zidane played for Juventus and Simeone at Inter and Lazio.
The two’s outstanding career as players in the Spanish capital provided a total of one direct encounter in the derby, in December 2003, an evening that neither of them will ever forget. It was the night that the great Brazilian Ronaldo scored the fastest goal in the history of the Santiago Bernabeu in just 16 seconds, while Raul added his own goal en route to a big 0: 2 by the Blancos over the bitter rival from the red-and-white side of the city.
That encounter was later revealed as the last encounter between Zidane and Simeone as players and tipped the balance in favor of the Frenchman. Head to head as players, given their Serie A appearances, stands at Zidane’s four wins, two draws and three Simeone wins.
The balance on the lines
On the lines things look completely different for Cello, there is no doubt that he made a huge change at Atletico Madrid and brought it back to its greatest days. Since being appointed coach in December 2011, Cello has led Atletico to two Europa League victories, returning the Spanish Championship after 18 years in the ring, adding the Copa del Rey to the title cabinet after 17 years, winning the Spanish and European Super Cups and most importantly – restoring the deterrent power of The Colchoneros.
Real Madrid went through 25 meetings between 1999 and 2013 without losing to Atletico, but Simeone was the man who stopped the bitter rival’s run and led his side to a historic 1-2 victory after extra-time in the 2013 Copa del Rey final. But since then something has happened to Atletico in the derbies against Zidane as coach.
Zizu defeated Simeone in a total of six meetings, four draws were on the way and Cello scored just three wins against Zidane. In the cup final in question, in the second game of the Champions League semi-final in 2016/17, which did not change anything for Zidane as the loss came in a reciprocal and Real Madrid reached the final anyway, and once in the league. The Champions League final between these two tactics also fell in Zidane’s favor, with Real Madrid winning the big-eared trophy in 2015/16 in Milan after beating 3-5 free kicks when the game itself ended 1-1 after 120 minutes.
So what happens to Simeone in meetings against Zidane?
The enthusiasm and passion that the Argentine brings with him as a coach is known to everyone. Also the tactical game, the correct standing on the field, the crowded lineup, the excellent passing games and the stubborn teams he puts as a coach. So why does he fall in front of Zidane time and time again? Both coaches have known the derby games since their days as players, understand the importance of the game and put it above everything, all the time.
When Cello arrives for the games against Real, he does not just come to play against “another” big team. Excessive enthusiasm in the game and the attempt to hit and defeat the opponent hurt the team. Something in the tactical stance goes wrong, the nerves come and as soon as Atletico absorbs one goal, it loses its head. Just as happened in the last two league meetings between the coaches, in which Cello lost, when since February 1, 2020, the Colchoneros have lost in only three league games, of which twice to the city rival. On the other hand, when Real meets Atletico a special spark ignites in them, they usually present fine football even if it does not come in its best period.
Simeone’s mission will be to bring his players to the ground. Joao Felix’s nerves from the last game and losing his head in losses to Chelsea and Levante are out of the question if he does not want to fall against the Blancos again, especially given the fact that he comes from first place, when all the pressure on him and loss here could complicate Atletico and allow Real as well. For Barcelona, narrow the gap from the summit to only 2 points.
Atletico’s key is mainly in defense and passing attacks. Her tactical stance, tough play, concentration and pressure play must be at their peak for 90 minutes. Even if the team gets a goal, it must not lose its head, if Simeone manages to instill and bring the special character he brings to the team in recent years, will make his players continue to “be bad” on the field and play as one unit against the Blancos, anything is possible. This is exactly the time for Atletico to prove they are not falling for the big rival. Simeone has the understanding that he does not fall for Zidane, and if all that happens, it will be possible to already say the word championship out loud.
