Injuries, Cup semifinal both factors ahead of 2024’s third Madrid derby

MADRID | Xinhua | Real Madrid have injury problems in defense, while Atletico Madrid have to look to the future when the two sides play the third Madrid derby of 2024 in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday night.

So far, it’s honors even, with Real beating Atletico 5-3 after extra time in the semifinal of the Spanish Super Cup in early January, before Atletico knocked their neighbors out of the Copa del Rey just a week later with a 4-2 victory in the Metropolitano Stadium, which again needed an extra 30 minutes.

That Copa del Rey win two rounds ago helped propel Atletico into the semifinals of the competition, where they entertain Athletic Bilbao in the first leg on Wednesday night.

Atletico have complained that they have only three days to prepare for a season-defining match after Sunday’s derby, while their rivals have five, conveniently forgetting they had four more days than their neighbors before their last clash.

Real Madrid will be looking for revenge for their cup defeat, but with Girona’s draw win to Real Sociedad on Saturday, they still remain to the top of the table.

Carlo Ancelotti has problems in central defense after Antonio Rudiger was forced out at halftime in their visit to Getafe on Thursday. Rudiger is a major doubt for Sunday, and with Eder Militao and David Alaba long-term casualties, Nacho Fernandez is the only specialist central defender available for the Italian.

Aurelien Tchouameni would normally drop from midfield to provide cover, but the French international is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season on Thursday, and Ancelotti will have to adapt, with perhaps Eduardo Camavinga forced to play out of position for a vital game.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone rested Antoine Griezmann for his side’s narrow win over Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday and the Frenchman is certain to start, although Alvaro Morata is an injury worry and may not be risked ahead of Wednesday, especially with Memphis Depay in good form of late.

With defender Jose Gimenez also out, Simeone could also hand a first start to Gabriel Paulista following his arrival from Valencia, and the fact Gabriel is ineligible to play for his new side in the Copa del Rey may mean he plays the full 90 minutes. ■