Fri, November 06, 2009
MADRID, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Madrid derby between Atletico and Real Madrid in Atletico's Vicente Calderon Stadium is the big attraction in the BBVA Primera Liga on Saturday night.
Both sides go into the match on the back of draws in the Champions League. Atletico drew 2-2 at home to Chelsea, while Real Madrid took a point off AC Milan with a 1-1 draw in the San Siro Stadium.
Atletico went out of the competition as a result of its result, but the side showed a big improvement under new coach Quique Sanchez Flores and has been given a morale boost by the performance.
Striker Kun Aguero looked to be back to his best with two magnificent goals, the last a free kick late into injury time, and the side showed a character that had been lacking under the sacked Abel Resino.
Defender Juanito will miss the derby with a muscle problem, but Aguero will recover from a slight strain that he suffered after going on as a second half substitute.
Real Madrid, meanwhile also showed that the 2-0 win against Getafe last weekend was not a flash in the pan and for the first 45 minutes the side coached by Manuel Pellegrini played perhaps its best football of the season in Milan.
Pellegrini will make changes in the Calderon with Raul Gonzalez coming back into the team for Gonzalo Higuain, although many cite Raul's absence in Milan as the reason for the improved performances from Karim Benzema and Kaka.
Real will be without defender Raul Albiol through suspension following his harsh sending off against Getafe. Christoph Metzelder could step into central defense unless Pellegrini decides to move Sergio Ramos infield to take advantage of his extra pace.
Meanwhile the club has suffered a setback with the news that record signing Cristiano Ronaldo will be out of action for between one and three months with his ankle injury.
The Calderon has been a happy venue for Real Madrid in recent seasons with Real winning in six of its last seven visits, during which time Atletico has only been able to manage two 1-1 draws in front of its followers.
This year, however, the Atletico players are looking to their fight back against Chelsea to provide the inspiration to finally beat their neighbors and rivals.
