Only one team has beaten La Liga leaders Real Madrid this season — neighbours Atletico Madrid, twice.
Diego Simeone’s side visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday in La Liga, aiming to complete a hat-trick of victories over their bitter rivals and wrestle their way into the title race.
Atletico inflicted Madrid’s only top-flight defeat of the season in September, with a 3-1 home win that shook Carlo Ancelotti’s team.
Madrid responded with a run of 21 matches without losing, brought to a juddering halt by Atletico again in the Copa del Rey last 16 in January.
The Rojiblancos romped to a 4-2 extra-time victory to gain revenge for Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final win against them the week before in Saudi Arabia.
Another win for Atletico on Sunday would mean more than taking the derby honours — it would help revive their title hopes. Real Madrid lead second place Girona by two points and Atletico, third, by 10.
Simeone insisted that the previous matches held little relevance ahead of the third clash with Madrid in under a month. “It’s a different game, as always in the derby,” said the coach after Atletico secured a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.
