In the first Madrid derby of the 2011–12 season, some Real Madrid fans displayed a banner seeking a competitive rival: "Looking for a worthy rival for a decent derby." At that time, Atlético Madrid had not won a single derby for over a decade, a drought that lasted until 2013. That year, Atlético defeated Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, marking a significant moment in Diego Simeone’s coaching career, especially at the expense of then-coach José Mourinho. Thirteen years later, the two face off again in another derby.
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This season, Simeone has expressed a respectful attitude toward Mourinho, stating, "I have huge respect for Mourinho. I’ve been an admirer of his for a long time, I’ve followed him and watched him. He knows the regard I have for him." This good will also extends to Julián Alvarez, who had been seeking a transfer to Barcelona over the summer. Despite his injury absence from two recent matches against Real Sociedad and Osasuna, Simeone included Alvarez in the roster, although he did not start the game, remaining on the bench.
Alvarez’s return could be crucial for Atlético, as he is the club's leading scorer against Real Madrid, with five goals in ten appearances, including a brace in the last home match against Los Blancos. However, Atlético's lineup notably excluded midfielders Koke and Morten Hjulmand, with Simeone opting for an alternate approach.
Atlético Madrid's starting XI against Real Madrid included: Jan Oblak; Marc Pubill, Cristian Romero, Dávid Hancko; Giuliano Simeone, Johnny Cardoso, Marcos Llorente, Alejandro Grimaldo; Lee Kang-in, Jonathan David, Álex Baena.
Meanwhile, José Mourinho continues to grapple with lineup decisions. This season, he has seemingly favored starting established stars over emerging players who have performed well. Arda Güler leads the team in chances created with 27 in La Liga, far surpassing teammates Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior, who have created 13 each. Despite this, Güler has not always secured a starting position until now, while high-profile summer signing Yan Diomande was left on the bench.
Real Madrid's lineup for the match is predicted to be: Thibaut Courtois; Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté, Dean Huijsen, Marc Cucurella; Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni; Arda Güler, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior; Kylian Mbappé.