Game for Real stretch

Zidane’s men out to stay unbeaten in tricky trip to Atletico

MADRID: The last Spanish League derby against Atletico Madrid marked a turning point for Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid.

The disappointing home defeat in February was the last time Real lost a game in the league. They rebounded from that 1-0 defeat at the Bernabeu by going on a streak that culminated with the club lifting the Champions League trophy – in a final against Atletico – and contending for the league title until the very end.

Real won 12 straight after the loss, erasing 11 points off Barce lona’s lead and finishing only one point from the title.

This time, Real are just looking to keep their momentum when they play city rivals Atletico tomorrow.

Real arrive at the derby in a much better position than previously, holding a two-point lead over Barcelona and a six-point advantage over Diego Simeone’s Atletico, who need the victory to avoid losing more ground to the rivals. Atletico led the league until losing two of their last three games to drop to fourth in the standings.

Atletico have won four league games in a row at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, but they will be facing a Real team that have thrived away from the Bernabeu, having scored 20 goals in their last four away games in all competitions.

Real isn’t getting over confident, however.

“The next game will be a tricky one, like they always are against Atletico,” Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez said.

Real’s only loss since the league game against Atletico last season was at Wolfsburg in the Champions League in April. They remain unbeaten since then, with 21 wins and seven draws in all competitions. They have won four straight in the league and are the only team in the top tier not to have lost this season.

Succeeding at the Calderon may be especially difficult this time as Zidane has been dealing with injuries to some of the team’s top forwards. Alvaro Morata, who scored three goals in his last three games with Real, is out because of a hamstring injury sustained with Spain’s national team, and it remains unclear if Karim Benzema will overcome a lingering hip problem.

The coach may have to change the team up front, or use some of his reserve players to fill the attack along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Among Zidane’s options on offence are Lucas Vazquez and youngster Mariano Diaz.

Other Real players uncertain to start tomorrow because of injuries include defender Pepe and defensive midfielder Casemiro.

In better news for Zidane, midfielder Luka Modric will likely make his first start since undergoing a surgical procedure on his knee almost two months ago, and defender Sergio Ramos also is expected to play after his own knee problems. Midfielder Tony Kroos remains sidelined because of a foot injury.

Simeone, meanwhile, still doesn’t know if he will be able to count on forward Antoine Griezmann, who is nursing a knock to his left foot sustained with France’s national team in a World Cup qualifier last week. The forward has a good chance of playing after tests early in the week ruled out a serious injury.

Real and Atletico drew 1-1 the last time they met at the Calderon. Real beat their city rivals in a penalty shootout in the Champions League final in Milan.

Barcelona host Malaga tomorrow, while third-placed Villarreal play at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. — AP

The next game will be a tricky one, like they always are against Atletico. Nacho Fernandez