Ancelotti unhappy to face Atletico thrice

REAL Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said yesterday he was unhappy to be pitted against fierce city rivals Atletico Madrid three times in under a month.

Los Blancos take on Diego Simeone’s Atletico tonight in Riyadh in the Spanish Super Cup semifinal, again next week in the Copa del Rey last 16, and also in LaLiga in early February.

Atletico are the only team to beat Real Madrid this season in all competitions, with the Rojiblancos earning a 3-1 league win in September in the derby at their Metropolitano stadium.

“The calendar is what it is, we have to face Atletico Madrid again, we have to play this game,” Ancelotti told a news conference.

“I don’t like facing Atletico because they are one of the best teams, it’s always tough to play them — but Atletico will be thinking the same thing.

“We are two strong teams and it will be complicated, but I think the fans will enjoy these fixtures, both Real Madrid and Atletico fans.”

Ancelotti said Atletico’s victory over Madrid this season damaged his side, although they have since gone on a 19-match unbeaten run.

“The truth is the last game we played (against Atletico) did us a lot of damage,” continued Ancelotti.

“I think tomorrow we can put a better version of ourselves out there than in our first match against Atletico Madrid.”

Atletico had won just one of their previous 14 LaLiga matches against Real Madrid before this season’s victory. Real Madrid also beat Atletico in the 2020 Spanish Super Cup final, the first to be played in Saudi Arabia.

Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde was dismissed for hacking down Atletico striker Alvaro Morata as he ran through on goal deep in extra-time, allowing his team to get to penalties, where they triumphed.

“I’d do it (again), if it’s for the team,” Valverde told reporters.

“If we’re losing 3-0 then there’s no sense in it, in that final we were battling it out, it was hard-fought... if that was the scoreline again, I’d do it again.”