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´Traumatic´ changeover hurt Benitez at Madrid - Capello
4 February 2016
Fabio Capello believes a "traumatic" changeover following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti hindered Rafael Benitez's chances of succeeding at Real Madrid.
Benitez lasted just seven months as Madrid boss, sacked in January with the club sitting third in La Liga, behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona.
Asked why things did not work out for Benitez, Capello told AS: "I don’t know. You'd have to be in the dressing room.
"If there is no rapport with the coach it's difficult to succeed. Benítez has experience.
"It is possible the changeover from Ancelotti to Benítez was too traumatic."
Zinedine Zidane was chosen as the man to replace Benitez and has guided the club to three wins from four league fixtures, Madrid scoring 17 goals in the process.
The French legend became Madrid's 13th coach since the beginning of the 2003-04 season and Capello has his concerns.
"That's a lot. A lot," he added. "I don't know. Madrid is a very tricky club. If the president goes over the coach's head to talk directly to the players about problems in the dressing room, the coach is finished and the players know it.
"They say to each other: 'The president asked me why this happened...', and then they think that the coach isn't relevant."
Ronaldo: Two more years at Real Madrid and then we´ll see
8 February 2016
Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested he could leave Real Madrid when his contract expires in June 2018.
The Portugal international has been heavily linked with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain in recent weeks, while he has himself hinted at interest in a move to the MLS.
He wants to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu for two more years, though, before potentially moving on.
"I have been in Spain for six years now. I was in Manchester for six years as well and that was a great experience, a great championship, but for me this is the best league in the world," the attacker said after collecting his top goalscorer trophy at a ceremony organised by Marca.
"It's a privilege to be here. I want to be here for a couple more years and then we'll see. That's the duration of my contract and I want to give my all in that time.
"I dedicate this award to the team, to the coaches, the staff and everyone at Madrid. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to score so many goals last season.
"Let's hope the fans keep supporting as they have been. They are spectacular. We will give everything on the pitch to try and win trophies and the Champions League once again."
The 31-year-old has netted 30 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions for Madrid this season.
Barcelona have confirmed that Lionel Messi has undergone further tests on kidney problems which first emerged in December.
The Argentina international missed part of the Club World Cup in Japan as a result of renal colic, an abdominal discomfort commonly caused by kidney stones.
Reports emerged in Spain on Monday suggesting Messi could face minor surgery in order to correct the problem, which is claimed has persisted in recent weeks despite the 28-year-old missing only one match in 2016 so far.
Barca have clarified that medical checks are due to take place over two days this week but expect the forward to return to team training on Wednesday.
"Leo Messi will be submitted for different tests on Monday and Tuesday to assess the development of the kidney problems suffered in December," a Barcelona statement read.
"On Wednesday the player will return to training with the first team."
Messi could well be rested for the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg with Valencia on Wednesday given that Barca hold a 7-0 aggregate lead.
Cruyff would have preferred Guardiola at Manchester United
8 February 2016
Former Barcelona and Manchester United forward Jordi Cruyff wanted to see Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola opt to move to Old Trafford rather than Manchester City.
Guardiola has agreed a deal to join City on a three-year contract when he leaves Bayern at the end of the 2015-16 season.
Cruyff, though, would have preferred to see him choose Premier League rivals United, who are currently managed by Louis van Gaal.
"I would have liked Pep at United – they have more tradition than City," he told Esports Cope.
"It is a good moment to work at City, though, because they have the set-up, the money and the will to create a good team."
Cruyff also gave his verdict on Barcelona star Neymar, who remains locked in contract negotiations at Camp Nou to extend a deal that is due to expire in 2018.
The former Netherlands international is keen to see the 24-year-old stay put, but knows the significant power that money holds in the modern game.
Cruyff said: "There is a mix between romanticism to always play for the same club and tempting offers from elsewhere. Money is very powerful.
"We already know Neymar's situation at Barca is very good, but there are always better [offers]. I hope he stays."
Embattled Valencia coach Gary Neville is confident the club's supporters will return on the weekend after they staged a boycott of Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Barcelona.
With Neville clinging to his job and his team struggling for form, only a quarter of the 55,000-capacity Mestalla Stadium was filled as Valencia and Barca drew 1-1 midweek, after the Spanish and European champions posted an emphatic 7-0 win in the opening fixture.
Valencia were on course for a 1-0 victory in the second leg against a second-string Barca side - missing Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar among others - but an 84th-minute equaliser from Wilfrid Kaptoum cancelled out Alvaro Negredo's first-half opener, giving Luis Enrique's men an 8-1 win on aggregate.
Despite the scarce numbers in the crowd, Neville - who is yet to win a La Liga match since taking charge in December - is sure fans will be back for Saturday's showdown against Espanyol, with Valencia just four points above the relegation zone.
"I am grateful to the fans who came out to support us," he said. "Those who didn't want to come, are within their rights.
"[The] Mestalla will be full on Saturday, and the atmosphere will be electric.
"We need the fans more than ever."
Neville admitted he fielded a younger side with an eye on 17th-placed Espanyol, who are only three points adrift of Valencia.
"Now we are preparing Saturday's game, which we know is hugely important," he said.
"I picked players today with the idea in mind that we want the team as fresh as possible for Saturday.
"I don't want to put pressure on the young players. They have to grow gradually.
"There are players with a lot of talent in the Academy, and we saw some very good signs."
Messi and Neymar inspiring Lukaku to silence the critics
12 February 2016 09:32
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is confident he can continue to improve, and has set his sights on matching the level of Barcelona stars Lionel Messi and Neymar.
The Belgium international, 22, sits second in the Premier League scoring charts with 16 goals.
Nevertheless, Lukaku is not resting on his laurels and has welcomed any criticism of his game, as he believes it will only inspire him to become one of the game's great players.
"I would say people sometimes forget I am only seven months older than Ross [Barkley]. I am judged differently because I have had two big moves," Lukaku told The Telegraph.
"But I can understand that, I can understand people's expectations. If you look at my goalscoring record throughout my career then it is good. In fact it’s really good at the moment and especially for my age but I just know it's part of the game.
"Players like Messi… look at Neymar. Neymar is not much older than me but he gets tonnes of criticism if he does not play well. So if one day I aspire to be like one of them then why should I complain now? Just take it.
"I want the critics to make me even tougher than I am now. The better you get, the more time you spend on your career. I am getting better as a player. I feel that. I am getting better at everything. Getting better with every game.
"There is still room for improvement because I am young and I know it's not perfect. But I am getting where I want to be. At the moment I know I am really good. I know I am really good. But I want to be better. "
Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane will not risk Gareth Bale before he has fully recovered from a calf injury that has sidelined him since mid-January.
The Wales international has not featured since limping out of Madrid's 5-1 La Liga win over Sporting Gijon on January 17, a match in which he opened the scoring.
Bale returned to training nine days later, but there have been concerns over his condition due to his continued absence and the former Tottenham star is to miss out again against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
However, Zidane - who is also without Marcelo this weekend due to a shoulder problem - sought to ease fears over Bale's injury.
"When a player is injured you are always a bit worried. But no more than normal. He is getting better every day," the France great told reporters.
"It is an issue which needs more time. We are relaxed about it, Gareth is a really important player for us, so we will not take risks.
"It's a normal process, each player has a process and if he feels something that is it. There is no need to keep going over it.
"He still feels discomfort and so I will not risk him, we have to give him more time.
"Gareth is an important player for me, he is lively and well within the group. He wants to play and we only have peace, he is in good spirits."
The Colombia international joined the club from Monaco in a deal worth £71 million in 2014 and his salary has now been publicised by whistle-blowing website Football Leaks
James Rodriguez’s wages at Real Madrid have been revealed by whistleblowing website Football Leaks, with the Colombian earning €7.7 million-per-season at Santiago Bernabeu.
The Colombia international joined the club from Monaco in 2014 in a deal that could be worth a total of £71 million.
Football Leaks have revealed the details of a number of contracts in recent weeks, including those of Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil and Gareth Bale.
And James’ salary details have now been publicised, with the 24-year-old earning a wage of €149,000-per-week at the Liga giants.
With the Colombian signing a six-year deal upon his arrival at Santiago Bernabeu, James stands to earn a total of €46.5m from the duration of his stay in Spain.
The attacking midfielder, who burst onto the scene in the 2014 World Cup, has scored five goals and provided eight assists in 17 appearances for Real this season.
Javier Mascherano has never scored for Barcelona and a petition has been started requesting Lionel Messi let him do so with a penalty.
An online petition has been started to ask Lionel Messi to allow Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano to take a penalty and score his first goal for the club.
Since arriving at Camp Nou in 2010, Mascherano has won 13 major trophies, including the Champions League twice, La Liga three times and the Club World Cup on two occasions.
However, despite making his 264th appearance for Barca in the 6-1 win over Celta Vigo on Sunday, the 31-year-old is yet to find the back of the net for the Catalan giants.
After Messi opted to use a penalty to tee up Luis Suarez for a hat-trick rather than convert his 300th La Liga goal for the club against the Galician side at the weekend, he is being called upon to show a similar level of generosity to his compatriot through an online appeal.
"We believe that Javier Mascherano does not have the recognition he deserves as a star player for Barca," a statement explaining the petition reads.
"He has given so much to the team we see it unfair he is not recognised as he deserves, as unfortunately in football everything is measured in goals and we want him to get a goal for the club.
"The easiest way is to enable it to take a penalty, and we ask Leo Messi to do this."
Barcelona penalty blunders no concern for Luis Enrique
17 February 2016
Luis Enrique insists he has no concern about Barcelona's poor penalty record despite another miss in Wednesday's win over Sporting Gijon.
Luis Suarez saw his effort saved by Ivan Cuellar after Lionel Messi had passed up the chance to complete his hat-trick from the spot, though Barca went on to win 3-1 after Suarez later found the net.
Messi's decision to pass his spot-kick to Suarez against Celta Vigo has stolen headlines in recent days but Barca's record from 12 yards this season has largely been poor, with Suarez's effort the sixth penalty missed in the top flight by the champions in 2015-16.
Yet Luis Enrique, whose side have won seven games in a row in La Liga and now lead the standings by six points, is not worried.
"We want to improve in this aspect, but the ones missing are those who take responsibility to shoot and I have zero concerns," he said. "We have three great specialists.
"Suarez makes us relax and he calmed Sporting and their fans. After the penalty, everything was out of our control. He secured the game."
Messi surpassed the 300-goal mark with his double at El Molinon and Luis Enrique was delighted with the way his side coped against Abelardo's spirited outfit as the league season enters its final third.
"To be able to count on Messi is a privilege," he said. "We overcame a team who knows how to defend well, we dominated a team who sat back well and counter-attacked. We played a very complete game.
"I'm optimistic in any situation that we're given, but that doesn't mean anything. It's very difficult to get points as the final rounds approach. We depend on ourselves."
Luis Enrique made his debut as a player for Sporting in 1989 and he admitted he enjoyed another chance to return to Asturias.
"I'm not very sentimental," he added. "I come here often. I saw friends who haven't been here for a long time. It was nice."
Clasico referee complaint case archived over lack of evidence
18 February 2016
An investigation into allegations of attempted corruption in Real Madrid's clash with Barcelona in November has been shelved over a lack of evidence.
It was alleged in late October that an unnamed assistant referee had been pressured by the Referees' Technical Committee in Spain's top flight to grant favourable decisions to the hosts in the Clasico at Santiago Bernabeu on November 21. Barcelona won the match 4-0.
Proceedings were opened by an anti-corruption office in Barcelona to explore the validity of the claims, but a statement issued via the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed that the case has been archived.
The statement read: "The Referees' Technical Committee of the RFEF hereby informs the public that the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's office in Barcelona has concluded the investigation procedures related to the complaint lodged with it and the Guardia Civil, relating to the alleged pressure made by a member of the CTA on a certain number of referees and assistant referees, the possible candidates to be appointed for a certain football match.
"As a result of the above, the office has proceeded to archive the complaint referred to, on the grounds that it lacks the sufficient evidence to prosper.
"This is placed on record for the knowledge of the sporting world and the footballing world in particular."
La Liga president Javier Tebas stated in the build-up to the match that he considered the allegations to be "implausible" given that the refereeing team for the game had not been appointed at the time of the reports.
MEP calls for investigation into Bale´s Real Madrid move
18 February 2016
MEP Sander Loones has called on the European Commission to mount an investigation into the financing behind Gareth Bale's world-record transfer from Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013.
Loones and fellow European Parliament members Daniel Dalton and Ramon Tremosa wrote to the Commission with concerns that Spanish banks bailed out by European tax-payers provided guarantees for the fee paid to sign the Welshman.
In 2013, Dutch MEP Derk-Jan Eppink raised questions over the financing arrangement behind the deal, and the trio have reignited the issue with their submission to the executive body of the European Union.
"Promissory notes were issued to Tottenham Hotspur, which subsequently seem to have been sold on to Spanish banks, which have now ended up assuming the risk for Bale's record-breaking transfer fee," read the question signed by the three MEPs.
"Is it correct to state that bailed-out Spanish banks were offering promissory notes to Tottenham to act as a guarantee, thereby indirectly putting the liability on the Spanish and European taxpayers?"
Loones hopes it sparks a probe into the details of the transfer by the Commission and would like to see appropriate action taken over any findings.
"I hope to receive answers to the three questions that the three of us decide to pose to the Commission," the Belgian MEP told Omnisport.
"Above all, I would like to see the Commission actually investigating the facts and the financing arrangement behind the transfer of Gareth Bale.
"If bailed-out Spanish banks were/are indeed involved in the financing arrangement, then I would like the Commission to decide to act [and tell us what it is going to do] under its competition law and state aid responsibilities, if the treaties allow for it, of course."
In January, website Football Leaks published documents detailing the star's transfer in 2013 which state the world-record figure paid by Madrid to Tottenham.
It is claimed the Santiago Bernabeu club parted with €100,759,418 for Bale - more than the €94m fee paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 - despite their previous insistence that Bale's deal cost closer to €91.59m.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas wanted to bring in Zinedine Zidane as the club's coach before the former France star took charge of Real Madrid.
Zidane was already being touted as a potential replacement for then under-fire Madrid boss Rafael Benitez when Lyon parted company with Hubert Fournier and installed his number two Bruno Genesio on Christmas Eve.
Aulas told Spanish newspaper AS that Zidane, who succeeded Benitez at the Santiago Bernabeu 11 days later, was his preferred choice, but claimed Lyon were priced out of a deal.
"I wanted to sign Zizou," he said. "It was on December 24. I talked to people very close to him but it was not an economically possible deal for us.
"Less than two weeks later, Benitez was sacked and [Zidane] was elected as the new coach of Madrid."
Lyon travel to Lille on Sunday having moved up to fifth in Ligue 1 on the back of victories in each of their past three league matches – scoring 10 times in the process.
Barcelona stars won´t leave for Man City riches - Bartomeu
21 February 2016
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has no concerns that star players could be tempted away from Camp Nou by the riches of Manchester City.
With Pep Guardiola set to take charge of the Premier League outfit at the end of the season, speculation has mounted that he could look to raid his former club as part of a squad overhaul bankrolled by City's billionaire owners.
Lionel Messi has been linked with a sensational move to the Etihad Stadium in the past, while Neymar and Sergio Busquets have expressed their admiration for Guardiola's methods, prompting rumours they could be tempted by a transfer.
Yet Bartomeu is adamant Barca will keep their best players and insists the lure of money alone will not be enough to see them move.
"We know Messi could earn more money in other teams, or Neymar, Busquets, Gerard Pique or Luis Suarez," he told The Daily Mail. "Neymar, for example, when he came to Barcelona, had better offers from other teams. Suarez also had better offers.
"But they decided to come to Barcelona because I think this club attracts players, because we are more than a club.
"We take care of a lot of other things, being closer to children in the world, through UNICEF, through the Melinda Gates Foundation or through the International Olympic Committee in Africa, through projects with children. All of this creates an atmosphere that we are not only a football club. We are more than a club.
"We are confident because we know our players are very happy in our club, in our city. They enjoy sport, their profession, and they are in a group. So we are very confident those players are not moving, taking decisions because of money.
"Messi said a few days ago 'Barcelona will be the only European club that I play for'. So if someone is interested in Messi, forget it. He said this. I didn't say it. He said this."
Neymar's future continues to be subject to speculation as talks over a new contract show no sign of reaching a conclusion, yet Bartomeu has few concerns.
"All of our players are in a moment where we renew their contracts, we extend their contracts," he said.
"Right now I don't see that any of our players have to leave next summer. I cannot tell you if we have done it or not done it. But as a member of the board we are responsible people. We know what is best for our club. When something is done, we will announce it."
Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen revealed just how intense the club's training methods are ahead of his return to Arsenal.
Vermaelen and his Barca team-mates travel to Arsenal for the first leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie on Tuesday, and the defender provided an insight into the European champions' practice sessions.
"The first thing I noticed here was the intensity of the pressing," Vermaelen told the Telegraph.
"The pressure is on straight away when we lose the ball. We do a lot of positioning games, focusing on getting the ball back. The pressure the players put on you is incredible, you have no time on the ball."
The Belgian spoke about how Barcelona regularly work on a piggy-in-the-middle game known as a 'rondo'.
He said: "We always do it at the start of training, it doesn't only warm you up but it’s a training session in itself, you try to keep the ball in possession and make the guys in the middle do the pressing.
"We did it sometimes at Arsenal but not a lot of clubs do it like we do it here.
"It's a tradition. Even if we have a game in the evening, we come here in the morning and do a rondo."
Vermaelen added that he has "warm memories" of Arsenal, where he made over 100 appearances between 2009 and 2014.
"I watch a lot of Arsenal games because I have warm memories of the club, and because they are a very attractive team," he said.
"I watched the Leicester game last week, it was very stressful but these are the most beautiful games to win.
"Now the title race is wide open, if they hadn’t won it would have been more difficult but now it’s on. I always said at the start that Arsenal had a big chance to win it.
"Unfortunately we had to go our separate ways but luckily I signed for a beautiful club like Barcelona."
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo would consider acting once his professional playing career comes to an end.
A documentary about the 31-year-old Portugal international and global superstar was released late last year.
Acting is something Ronaldo would welcome at the end of his career, but only with the right training and guidance.
"I would like to learn being surrounded by good actors because only then will I learn since it is an area I do not control because it has nothing to do with football," he told Sacoor Brothers.
"Why not? It's not my goal at the moment, but I have had some invitations."
Ronaldo added: "Do not close the doors because it is an area which I like."
As for his playing future, Ronaldo said he remained unsure as to how long he would continue.
"I feel good, I feel young, so I want to continue," he said.
"I do not put goals as a football player, only the body will tell and the mind also. I want to enjoy and win more at the collective level and individual level."
Former Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas reflected on the moment his relationship with Jose Mourinho started to deteriorate.
Casillas, now at Porto after leaving his boyhood club last year, said things started to sour with Mourinho during the 2012-13 season.
That campaign was Mourinho's third and last at Real and Casillas said the Portuguese's attitude towards his players changed.
"Our relationship started to change when the team began to stall in the 2012-2013 season," Casillas told RTVE, via AS.
"And you know how these things evolve – when everything's going well we can do no wrong – we're all tall, handsome – basically we're the dog's bollocks.
"But when things are going badly, all of a sudden it's what's all this? What's all that?
"In the end, it's precisely during those moments when we you have to be more united than ever."
Real finished the season well adrift of champions Barcelona and Mourinho departed, returning to Chelsea for a second stint.
Premier League a bigger threat to Barcelona than Real Madrid - Bartomeu
22 February 2016 23:51
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the Premier League is a bigger rival to the club than Real Madrid.
From next season the 20 English top-flight teams will take a share of the mammoth £5.136billion paid by Sky and BT Sport for live Premier League TV rights.
That figure has Bartomeu worried, with English clubs outside the traditional group of heavyweights now able to make an impact in the transfer market.
"Premier League teams will have an incredible financial situation from now on and we are worried," he told BBC Sport.
"For Barcelona [the Premier League is] our main adversary, main rival."
Pressed on whether or not Madrid should hold that distinction, Bartomeu said: "No, [the] Premier League."
"The Premier League is the best football competition. It has the most interest for fans and [biggest] revenues. They are doing things [well] and keeping teams in the competition [for titles], where everyone being equal is of interest for everybody.
"We have different budgets in Spain and it would be difficult for someone [like] Leicester to be top of the league.
"We have to do our best to increase our revenues and our financial situation to make the talent of our teams stay with us.
"That is why I am so worried and we are working on this. We want to keep the talent at home."
As for the possibility of Barca stars being poached by the Premier League, he said: "I know our players are in touch with other clubs, it's normal. None of our players said they want to leave.
"Most get better economical offers, but our players are not in Barcelona for the money, they are there because of the football and the fans' commitment."
Barcelona face Arsenal away in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie on Tuesday as they aim to repeat last season's historic treble.
Having gone 33 games unbeaten, Barcelona come full circle when they host Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday.
Unai Emery's men were the last team to get the better of the Catalans when they claimed a 2-1 win at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in October.
Barca have been peerless in all competitions since, scoring 100 goals and conceding just 18 on their record-breaking run.
Sunday's clash also serves as a dress rehearsal for May's Copa del Rey final, but Emery will be hoping to tear up a familiar script.
Sevilla have not won at Camp Nou on their last 12 visits in the league and last tasted victory there in 2002, when they won 3-0.
The Andalusians are also without an away La Liga win in as many matches and Barca - eight points clear of Atletico Madrid at the summit - should come into the fixture full of confidence following an important Champions League last-16 win at Arsenal on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi netted twice to put the defending champions in full control ahead of the return leg on March 16.
Sevilla are, themselves, still alive in Europe and were drawn against final hosts Basel in the last 16 of the Europa League - a tournament they have won for the past two seasons - on Friday.
But midfielder Vicente Iborra insists Sevilla - looking to bounce back from a 1-0 second-leg defeat to Molde on Thursday - are fully focused on the task at hand as they look to boost their chances of a top-four finish with a shock result.
"Playing against Barcelona is always motivating," he told Goal.com. "We're going to work to make a good game. I'm sure we're able to win at any ground, why not at Camp Nou?
"We all know how good they are, not only in attacking but also in defence. We have to work to play a very complete match and take advantage of our chances while being strong at the back.
"We're alive in all three competitions. We have to keep climbing in La Liga and remain strong in the Europa League. Then we have to go step by step."
Barcelona are not thought to have any fresh injury concerns following their Champions League exertions and will be looking to keep Atleti and Real Madrid at bay with victory.
Key Opta stats:
- The only active player remaining from Sevilla's last league win at Barcelona in 2002 is Sevilla’s Jose Antonio Reyes.
- Luis Suarez is the top scorer in La Liga (25), as well as the player with the most assists (10).
- The Uruguayan striker has scored in each of his last five league games (7 goals).
- Since his arrival, Sevilla have won 56.9 per cent of their games with Ever Banega on the field, and just 41.7 per cent without him.
- Barcelona have missed the most penalties in the Top 5 European Leagues this season (6 out of 12).
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid: Ronaldo refuses to give up in title race
25 February 2016
Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to throw in the towel in the race for the Liga title as Real Madrid prepare to take on Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
Zinedine Zidane's men have fallen nine points behind leaders and reigning champions Barcelona in the table, while they are trailing second-placed Atletico by one point with 13 more games to go.
Ronaldo believes the title race is not over just yet, though, and is determined to keep move ahead of Atletico in the title race in this weekend's Madrid derby.
"Football is full of surprises and anything can happen," the Portugal international told Mahou. "You have to fight until the end.
"I hope that it will be a great game on Saturday and that Real Madrid can win."
Madrid face a tough task to see off their city rivals on Saturday, though, as they have struggled to get the better of Diego Simeone's men in recent years.
They have not defeated Atletico in any of their last five league games, their longest run without a win against them in history.
Madrid will likely still be without Gareth Bale (calf) and Pepe (foot) on Saturday, but Karim Benzema seems ready to feature after overcoming a hip problem, while Marcelo is also expected to make it despite missing training on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, will be desperate to get a good result against their rivals to keep their title dreams alive.
They had to settle for a scoreless draw with Villarreal last week, while they also failed to find the net in the Champions League draw with PSV on Wednesday, but Oliver Torres is confident the goals will come eventually.
"We will give 100 per cent in the derby, just like we do in any other game," Oliver was quoted as saying by AS.
"Of course, it is a special game. We know how important the match is and will give our all.
"Some days the goals come easily and other days not so much. We just have to keep up the good work and keep pushing."
Simeone's men might have been struggling going forward, but they have an astonishing defensive record. Atletico have conceded just 11 goals in La Liga, which is a joint-low across the top 5 European leagues, with Bayern Munich equally strong at the back.
Additionally, they have gone 180 minutes of play without conceding a single shot on target in La Liga, with Eibar's Saul Berjon the last player to test goalkeeper Jan Oblak on February 6.
Atletico will still be without winger Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (ankle injury) and Tiago (broken leg), while Stefan Savic is doubtful after picking up a calf problem versus PSV, but Thomas Partey is ready to make his return after resuming squad training on Thursday.
Key Opta facts:
- Real Madrid have won their last seven league games at home, scoring an average of 5.28 goals per game.
- Away from home, Atletico Madrid have suffered just three defeats in 13 La Liga games this season, conceding only five goals.
- Real Madrid have won 17 of their last 19 Madrid derbies at home in La Liga (losing the two remaining games, both against Atletico).
- Diego Simeone's side have gone 16 Madrid derbies without a defeat in La Liga (winning 13, drawing three).
- Cristiano Ronaldo has not scored in any of his last four games against Atletico in all competitions - his worst such run against them in his Real Madrid career.
- Antoine Griezmann is currently on his longest run without a league goal this season (five games).
