The form book, goes the saying, can be torn up and ignored when derby day comes around. The mere notion of a head to head with their greatest foes can rouse even the most lethargic of teams out of a months-long slumber and inspire the most unexpected of results.
Saturday evening in Madrid should put that theory to the test, then. Jose Mourinho’s white-hot Real play host to neighbours Atletico at the Bernabeu and come into the game on the back of a twelve-game winning streak in all competitions. With just a single point from five away fixtures, their rivals, on the other hand, have the worst away record in La Liga- it’s fair to say anything other than a home win would be quite a sensation.
Form Guide
Real’s home league displays this season have been breathtaking. With five wins from five games, they’ve scored 24 goals, an average of almost 5 goals, though have surprisingly conceded more than a goal per game, with 6 goals against so far at the Bernabeu.
At home, Madrid have averaged more shots on target (9.6) than any team in Spain’s top-flight, with 19.4 attempts on goal over each ninety minutes. Their dominance of possession (61%) in front of their own fans is bettered only by Barcelona’s 73.6%, though Atletico will take heart in the fact they concede 8.8 shots per game at the Bernabeu- Real’s home average of 20.2 tackles is fourth-bottom of La Liga, too, though the fact they have so much possession plays a significant part in this stat. With a WhoScored average of 7.43, their superiority is as intimidating as it is obvious.
Given Real’s relentless strike force, Atletico’s average of 15.4 shots conceded will be a worry to the visitors. The likes of Ronaldo, Higuain and Benzema should take full advantage of a defensive weakness that has seen them ship 12 goals over five matches on their travels already, though with 20.6 tackles averaged away from home, the challenge count looks evenly matched.
Atletico’s shooting stats offer hope, though, despite a measly 2 goals scored on the road so far. They’ve mustered 12.2 efforts per game, and 4.4 on target is the fourth most impressive in La Liga- clearly, poor finishing has let them down. Typically, they average 51.% possession on their travels but can expect to see less of the ball this time round- a WhoScored away average of 6.31 highlights the severity of the task in hand.
Key Players
A look at the WhoScored rankings highlights a pair of left wingers and central midfielders who have excelled for their respective clubs this season. Cristiano Ronaldo and Xavi Alonso have been sensational for the hosts, while Arda Turan and Gabi have been amongst Atletico’s stand-out performers. We analyse each player’s displays so far ahead of the showdown:
Central Midfield Maestros
A WhoScored rating of 7.57 sees Xabi Alonso as the second-top Real Madrid performer so far this season. Pulling the strings in midfield, Alonso has averaged a fantastic 87.2 passes per game, far and away the most of any Real player- an 88.5% accuracy indicates how key his distribution is. Sitting deep, he pings 9.5 long balls per game, looking to set up quick attacks on the break and utilising the dynamism of the likes of Ronaldo, Di Maria and Ozil up top.
Tending not to venture too far forward, Alonso has produced just 0.6 shots per game and a fairly modest 1.2 key passes, though he’s still managed to score once and pick up 2 assists, thanks to the quality of that final ball. His work rate is exemplified by 2.9 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game as Alonso breaks up the opposition play time and again, summing up his all-round importance to the side. Ronaldo and Higuain may hog the headlines, but it’s clear that Alonso is the heartbeat of Mourinho’s side.
Gabi has been solid, if not spectacular, since returning to Atletico from Zaragoza in the summer. Playing either in a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 or as part of a midfield trio in a 4-3-3, he has been the key creative presence, making 2.8 key passes per game and picking up 3 assists in return. Gabi has played a total of 56.8 passes per game with an 86.3% accuracy - 6.3 long passes and 2 successful crosses per game show plenty of variety to his distribution.
With 1.7 shots per game over his nine appearances, he’s had a total of 15 attempts on goal but has yet to find the net so far. He’s also shown plenty of battle in the centre of the field, with 2.8 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game, with a WhoScored average of 7.16.
Left Flank Terrors
So far this season, Cristiano Ronaldo has picked up 18 goals 7 assists in just 17 games in all competitions for Real as he tears up La Liga and the Champions League in equal measure. In terms of the league alone, it’s 14 goals and 5 assists; what’s impressive here is that last season, he picked up just 11 assists in the league- already, then, he’s almost halfway to that total, while still finding the net at the same lethal rate.
Ronaldo’s 6.2 shots per game is the best in all of Europe, bettering Lionel Messi’s 5.7, and an average of 1.7 key passes makes him the third most impressive creator for Mourinho’s side, too. His 1.2 successful dribbles per game is perhaps less than expected, too, indicating a more all-rounded game than in previous seasons. Indeed, despite a brilliant 8.35 WhoScored average, Ronaldo has picked up just 4 man of the match awards- compare this with Messi’s 8 and it’s obvious Real have far more players to rely upon this season than Barcelona. Gonzalo Higuain, for example, has already picked up 2 man of the match awards, the same as he managed all last term.
Arda Turan has been Atletico’s stand-out performer so far this season. The left winger has excelled offensively- from 1.9 key passes per game, his 5 assists are superior to any team mate, as the likes of Diego and Jose Antonio Reyes struggle to make an impact. Turan is also top for successful dribbles (1.1), though has failed to score in his eleven appearances, despite averaging 1.4 shots.
He’s far from just an attacking outlet for Atletico, though; the Turk’s brilliant work-ethic is summed up by 4 tackles and 2.7 interceptions per game, with left-back Felipe Luis’ 4.1 tackles just edging him into second place. A WhoScored average of 7.36 sums up his vital contribution and given that he and Gabi have grabbed 8 of Atletico’s 12 assists between them, it’s likely one of the pair will play some part if the away side manages to breach the Real back-line.
