These are strange, unsettling times in Madrid. An emotional sapping clash isn’t exactly what the doctor ordered for a pair of teams clearly under the weather.
This weekend’s derby arrives on the back of what has been an intriguing start to the season for both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. There is a feeling this one could be a LaLiga title KO even in November. Both teams are looking to get their season on track, and find some direction. The loser in this one could find themselves derailed completely and in search of some new perspective.
Neither club are in what you’d call a state of crisis, but they are certainly in a period of introspection. It’s the first derby to be held in Atleti’s new Wanda stadium, and it’s perhaps not the new surroundings that are making fans feeling unsettled.
Diego Simeone is encountering his most difficult period yet with the club he returned to as coach in 2012. While they remain unbeaten this season, and have not lost in their last 15 LaLiga games, concerns are rife as to the general progression of the team.
They remain on the brink in the Champions League, needing virtually a miracle to make the next round of the competition. It’s here Atleti have shown they are not the force they once were, and while results don’t reflect such a thing in LaLiga, they are evidently struggling to recapture an old flame that may well be burnt out now.
Their squad has grown old, tired and requires a freshening up. A lot is now dependent on if Diego Costa can hit the ground running when he’s available to play in January. The dated look of the squad is down in part to a transfer ban, but also a general lack of development before that even kicked in. Atleti’s spent too much time looking back when they needed to be looking beyond past successes.
Antoine Griezmann’s future remains a thorny issue but in terms of the present he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. He’s evidently being used out of position and remains too far from goal in games. It’s no surprise he’s not scoring, and appears disenchanted. Also however, there is a feeling he might be beyond Atleti in some ways, and his attitude isn’t quite what it once was. A move to Manchester United that didn’t transpire, and ultimately a sentimental gesture to stay in light of a transfer ban for Atleti, seems to be taking it’s toll on the Frenchman.
Across the city, things haven’t quite been at the level which fans have become accustomed to. A loss here and a Barcelona win at Leganes could see the loser of the Madrid Derby fall back 11 points. Again, it’s early, but that’s a significant mountain for anyone to climb - that is unthinkable for Zinedine Zidane’s men.
There is a crisis of confidence in the ranks and they haven’t been their usual swaggering, dominant selves. The Bernabeu has become a cold, lonely place at times and the players are feeling the frostiness from their own supporters.
Zidane’s had plenty to contend with it, mind. First there is maintaining the level of motivation and desire in the squad, but then there are some other factors. The squad depth upon which many feel the trophies were won upon last season isn’t quite there. Stars have been sold, while injuries have mounted up too. Keylor Navas, Gareth Bale, Dani Carvajal, Mateo Kovacic and Cristinao Ronaldo's suspension all hit hard.
And yes, Cristiano. Since returning from that ban he doesn’t appear to be himself and the strong stature in which he carries himself with has become a permanent sulk. He’s taken 48 shots this season in LaLiga and only one has gone in. He’s inevitably frustrated, and at times angry. The Portuguese needs to step up and lead however, put aside internal rows - reports exist of a fracture between him and Sergio Ramos - and lift Real Madrid back up so to speak on those broad shoulders.
A classic can’t be expected in this one, but it won’t be any less fascinating. Both teams are still yet to find themselves and this will a great indication of what juncture both are really at. It’s a Madrid Derby, but one that doesn’t feel quite so grand - more instead at odds with itself.
