The Madrid Derby between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid is one of the most highly awaited fixtures of the LaLiga Santander calendar, and few men have come to be as important to this clash as coaches Diego Simeone and Carlo Ancelotti. Here’s all you need to know;
The Madrid Derby is much more than a football match. It’s not just about the battle for three points; it’s the victory of one of the two sides of feelings that run through the Spanish capital. And few men know this better than coaches Diego El Cholo Simeone and Carlo Ancelotti.
The two know each other perfectly, and taking into account the Italian coach’s two spells at Real Madrid, they’ve met on five different occasions in LaLiga Santander. The balance is in favour of the Argentine. With El Cholo at the helm, Atleti have managed to win three of the five Madrid derbies against the Italian
The first Madrid derby between Cholo Simeone and Carlo Ancelotti
The first time these two iconic coaches faced each other in LaLiga Santander was in the 2013/14 season. It was Ancelotti’s first season as Real Madrid coach, and perhaps the Argentine’s experience in this type of derby played a key role. Atlético de Madrid shocked the Santiago Bernabéu crowd, leading with a 1-0 win with a fine 11th minute goal from Diego Costa.
That same season, which Atleti ended as champions, the second leg of the derby at the old Estadio Vicente Calderon ended in a draw. Karim Benzema opened the scoring three minutes before Koke equalised with a fine cross-shot. Just before half-time, the Rojiblancos turned the game around with a shot from almost midfield by Gabi. Cristiano Ronaldo then equalized in the 82nd minute, producing the only draw between Simeone and Ancelotti to date.
The following season, Simeone managed to win both Madrid Derbies. Atleti walked away from the Santiago Bernabeu with a 2-1 win, before storming to a historic 4-0 win in an unforgettable encounter at the Vicente Calderon.
Carlo Ancelotti’s second stint has started better
Having failed to get one over Simeone in his first stint in LaLiga Santander, Ancelotti secured his first Madrid Derby win earlier this season. Goals from Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio scored the only goals of the derby at the Santiago Bernabeu, putting Real Madrid on course for their 35th LaLiga Santander title which they wrapped up this past weekend.
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