Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone believes his team can draw inspiration from past victories over Real Madrid as they prepare for Sunday’s home derby. Atletico was the only team to defeat Madrid in La Liga last season, and they also knocked their rivals out of the Copa del Rey, ending Real’s hopes of a treble. Despite limited preparation time, Simeone remains confident that his squad’s mental strength and motivation can help overcome any physical challenges.
Real Madrid head into the derby with a two-day rest advantage, having played on Tuesday while Atletico faced Celta Vigo on Thursday. Simeone admitted it was difficult to adjust with such a short turnaround but emphasized that his team accepts the challenge, saying, “Everything starts in the mind… motivation is an important weapon for everything in life.”
Simeone acknowledged Real Madrid’s attacking strength, highlighting the impact of playmaker Jude Bellingham, though he noted the absence of Toni Kroos, who retired last season, as a potential weakness for Madrid. Despite the hurdles, Atletico remains focused on maintaining their home dominance, having lost only once at home this year.
Atletico will hope to replicate their past success against Real and continue their strong run at the Metropolitano, where they aim to secure another crucial win in this heated rivalry.
