The title race in League could have a decisive turning point on Sunday (4:15 p.m.) on the occasion of the burning Madrid derby between Atlético and the Real Madrid, a shock at the top of the 26th day between two offensive powers in search of revival.
It is rare enough to be affirmed at the outset: this season, the “Mattresses” have a better attack than the ” You meringues “. Diego Simeone’s men score an average of 1.95 goals per game, while those of Zinédine Zidane score “only” 1.72 per game.
Anecdotal? Not really. Because this offensive efficiency partly explains the leading position in which Atlético finds itself before approaching the last quarter of the championship, twelve days before the end. Follow the Madrid derby live.
Sleeping “gunslinger”
The arrival of «Gunman» Luis Suarez, last summer, has a lot to do with it. Despite his 34 years, the Uruguayan international has kept his cool in front of goal and is now behind his great friend and ex-teammate Lionel Messi in the ranking of the top scorers in La Liga (19 goals in 23 matches for Messi, 16 in 21 matches for Suarez).
“As soon as Barcelona said he was on the transfer list, I knew it was a mistake. […] He scores, passes, and he’s also a player with a big impact off the field ”, summarized Friday the former “rojiblanco” Diego Forlan in an interview with AFP about his compatriot.
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With this assurance, the iconic coach Diego Simeone, in office for ten years, allowed himself to upset his immutable and impermeable 4-4-2 a few times.
For example, he opted for a 3-5-2 focused on attack, reinforced by the many offensive players who give him satisfaction this season: the return of Thomas Lemar to his best level, the emergence of Joao Felix or the arrival (still shy) of the ex-Lyonnais Moussa Dembélé.
And it works. This season in the league, Atlético has lost only two matches: against Levante (2-0) a fortnight ago and… the derby to go to the lawn of Real (2-0 on December 12).
The only downside for now, Luis Suarez has experienced a small slump since his last goal a month ago (February 8 against Celta Vigo), while he had chained seven in four matches between the end of January and the beginning. February.
Enough to temper the ardor of the Colchoneros. “Not long ago, we were talking about a championship with a Real and a Barça who no longer had any chance (of finishing champions). Look where they are now. We know how difficult this championship is ”, warned Simeone at a press conference.
Benzema lack
On the Real side, black clouds still dot the sky over Valdebebas, where Zidane and his players have been evolving since the start of the pandemic.
Third in the standings tied on points with FC Barcelona (2nd, 53 pts) and five lengths behind the leader, Atlético, Real needs to regain its offensive going to hope to bring back points from this short trip of a few kilometers and come back to his neighbor.
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And the hopes of the “Madridists” rest largely on the shoulders of one man: French center forward Karim Benzema.
“We know how important Karim is to us, and not just to score goals. He’s a player everyone admires. He is a player who gives a lot on the pitch. He is a player who loves the game. So obviously, it is better to have him in his team than to have him against ”, praised “Zizou” on Saturday at a press conference.
The former Lyonnais scored 12 goals out of the 40 scored by Real this season in the league. A third of the achievements of the “White House” in La Liga is the work of “KB9”, not to mention his 5 assists delivered.
Injured in the adductors since February 19, Benzema could not help his team during the last three matches … but recovered in time to hold his place on the front of the white attack during the derby, Zidane confirmed on Saturday .
Beyond the French, Zidane is not spared from injuries: the French technician has recovered Rodrygo, Alvaro Odriozola, Fede Valverde and Marcelo for the last match, but still has to compose without Eden Hazard or Mariano Diaz in attack, and especially without his captain Sergio Ramos, still in the infirmary.
The 30-year-old scorer’s duel between Suarez and Benzema will therefore symbolize the domestic standoff between Atlético and Real, the result giving an indication of the end of the season to be expected in La Liga.
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