The tactical battle is expected to take centre stage, while Atlético de Madrid’s defence will be tasked with keeping Kylian Mbappé quiet.
LALIGA EA SPORTS Matchday 7 is set to take place this weekend, featuring the first ELDERBI DE MADRID of the season as Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid lock horns on Sunday. Scheduled to kick off at 16:15 CEST at Los Rojiblancos’ home ground, the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, this upcoming clash between the two cross-city rivals promises excitement and intensity from start to finish. While Diego Simeone will aim for his first league derby win against José Mourinho, the hosts face a major test against the unstoppable Kylian Mbappé, who has hit the ground running this season. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
Simeone vs Mourinho over a decade later
Two of the most highly regarded tacticians in European football are set to face each other in ELDERBI DE MADRID after more than a decade. Their first-ever clash came in April 2012, when Los Blancos crushed Atleti 4-1 at the Estadio Vicente Calderón. It was one of Mourinho’s three league victories against the Argentinian coach, who hasn’t celebrated a single top-flight triumph over his Portuguese counterpart.
Yet, their last ever meeting in a derby took place a year later, with Atlético de Madrid beating Real Madrid 2-1 after extra time in a famous Copa del Rey final at the at the Bernabéu, with Simeone lifting his first-ever domestic trophy as Atleti coach in style.
Mourinho couldn’t avenge that loss the next season, when he took charge of Chelsea, whom Atlético de Madrid faced in the Champions League semi-finals. The Blues managed to escape with a 0-0 draw from the Calderón, but Simeone’s side grabbed a 3-1 win on the road to clinch a spot in the final.
It should be noted that Mourinho has never faced Los Rojiblancos at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, but he had never suffered a loss away at Atlético de Madrid in his career as a manager. In five matches as a visitor at the Calderón, the Portuguese recorded four straight victories as a Real Madrid boss, as well as the aforementioned draw with Chelsea. Meanwhile, in his first tenure at Los Blancos he led his team to as many as eight victories in nine derbies across all competitions, his only defeat being that loss in the Copa del Rey decider.
New season, same Mbappé
The tactical battle in the dugout will take centre stage on Sunday, but the spotlight might be stolen by a player who has gotten off to a sublime start of the season. Back-to-back Pichichi Trophy holder Mbappé has wasted no time making his mark this season, having already registered eight goals and two assists in seven games across all competitions. Having scored 31 and 25 goals, respectively, in his first two LALIGA EA SPORTS seasons, the France international has already bagged seven in the league and looks poised to reach double figures before long.
Mbappé netted Real Madrid’s second away at Elche CF on Tuesday before setting up Carlos Espí in stoppage time, as Los Blancos secured a narrow 3-2 victory at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero – their fifth win in six league games so far this term. He had previously bagged a brace against Rayo Vallecano and a hat-trick against Real Sociedad, with Real Madrid beating both teams 4-1 on home soil.
The 27-year-old forward has failed to score in only two games thus far, both on the road. The first was against RCD Espanyol, where Real Madrid needed another Espí late winner to clinch all three points, with the second one being their 1-0 Matchday 4 defeat away at Real Betis. Troy Parrott put the hosts ahead in the 81st minute before Mbappé missed the opportunity to help his team snatch a point by missing from the spot four minutes into stoppage time. Should Simeone find a way to neutralise Mbappé, he could move Atlético de Madrid closer to a potential victory that would give him his first-ever league derby win over Mourinho.
