European giants and bitter local rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid face off in the first Madrid derby of the season at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday. Here are the Top 5 Meetings between these two arch nemeses. Bet on the game here.
Real Madrid 1 v 2 Atletico Madrid – May 2013
This might go down as Atletico Madrid’s greatest win over their bitter rivals Real. Diego Simeone’s Atletico had not tasted victory over Real since 1999 when these two met in a hot-tempered and ferocious 2013 Copa del Rey final. Since returning to the top flight, these two teams had faced each other 25 times. In that run, Real won ten times. Before this precious win, Atletico had tried everything to beat Real but it was all in vain. In 2013, the jinx was finally broken. Los Colchoneros have gone to record some memorable wins over their city rivals but this one ranks at the very top.
Real Madrid 4 v 1 Atletico Madrid – May 2014
The 2014 Champions League final was the first Real Madrid had competed since 2002. Although the scoreline suggests the Los Blancos dominated Atletico, the reality is they were staring at the jaws of defeat until Sergio Ramos rescued them at the death. Atleti scored first in the 36th minute and fiercely defended it, but it wasn’t to be. Real ran riot in the second half to clinch their tenth European title. Atletico suffered heartbreak two years later in the 2016 final but the magnitude of the 2014 game makes it an unforgettable one.
Atletico Madrid 2 v 2 Real Madrid 2 – March 2014
One of the more fiercely contested derbies in recent years ended in a stalemate that ultimately helped Atletico claim the title for the first time since 1996. League leaders Madrid went into the game on a 27-game unbeaten run while Simeone’s side had not lost at home all season. An impasse looked probable and so it proved to be. Atletico were on the way to victory until their tormentor-in-chief Cristiano Ronaldo scored eight minutes from time to break the hearts of Atleti’s faithful.
Atletico Madrid 4 v 0 Real Madrid – February 2015
This was a season that the Madrid derby bragging rights belonged to Atletico although both sides ended the season with disappointment with Barcelona winning the treble. Having beaten Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in September, this meant Atletico had completed the first double over their local rivals for the first time since 1951. The 4-0 win was the heaviest defeat Atletico had inflicted on Real Madrid since the 1987/88 season.
Atletico Madrid 3 v 1 Real Madrid – June 1999
Madrid had not conceded three times in La Liga at the Vicente Calderon for a decade before this defeat in what was a disappointing season for them. The reigning European champion finished 11 points behind Barcelona and 22 ahead of Atletico, making this defeat even more maddening. Atletico’s Jose Mari’s opener was cancelled out by Fernando Morientes, but further goals from Jordi Lardin and Juninho gave the hosts a massive win over John Toshack’s Real. This result was a presage of what was coming. Toshack was sacked as Madrid ended 1998/1999 without a trophy. After this humiliating result, it would take four years before Madrid won a league derby again.