3 reasons why Atletico Madrid would defeat Real Madrid

The next matchday of LaLiga action throws up one of the marquee clashes of the season, as Real Madrid hosts bitter rivals Atletico Madrid in the El Derbi Madrileño ( The Madrid Derby).

Both teams come into the match off vastly different results in midweek, with Real putting in a shambolic performance in their 3-0 loss to Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, while Atletico were utterly dominant in their 3-0 victory over Huesca at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The two clubs are among the biggest in the world and are rightly considered among the favourites to triumph in whatever tournament they contest in, so Saturday's clash at the Santiago Bernabeu goes beyond battling for bragging rights, but also to draw first blood in the race for LaLiga glory.

Real Madrid are traditionally the bigger of the pair and have won over double the entire trophies Atleti have won, but Los Rojiblancos have become an entirely different proposition since Cholo Simeone took the reins, and Real Madrid have struggled against their derby rivals in recent years.

Indeed, the latest clash between the pair ended in victory for Atleti, with the defending Europa League champions posting a 4-2 victory in the UEFA Super Cup, hence Real Madrid would have revenge on their mind.

Despite possessing the bigger players, beating Atleti is one of the more difficult propositions in European football, as on their day, Simeone's men have the Arsenal to trouble any club in the world, and would give Real a good run for their money. Here are three reasons why Atletico Madrid could defeat Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

#3 They have an incredible record at the Bernabeu in recent years

Atletico Madrid has drawn each of their last two visits to the Bernabeu in LaLiga

Atletico were once so beneath Real Madrid that not only were they struggling in the second division at the turn of the millennium, but they also failed to win their more illustrious neighbours in any competition for 14 years between 1999 and 2013, leading Real fans to raise a banner advertising the need of a 'worthy' rival for a derby.

All that changed in 2013, when Diego Simeone masterminded Atletico's first triumph in almost two decades in the final of the Copa Del Rey at the home ground of Real Madrid, and since then Atleti have not looked back.

Even though Real have the upper hand on the continent, winning two UCL crowns at the expense of Atletico, domestically, the reverse has been the case, as Simeone has drilled Atleti into an extremely efficient unit, and one which Real Madrid finds extremely difficult to defeat especially at home.

The 2014 LaLiga champions have not lost at the Bernabeu in five LaLiga matches played since 2013, winning three and drawing two, and this impressive record at the Bernabeu is one which could propel Atletico to getting yet another victory this weekend.

#2 Ronaldo's departure

Ronaldo in action for Juventus in Serie A

After nine successful seasons in LaLiga with Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo departed Spain for Italy in a shocking transfer to Juventus, and one of the clubs which would have been happiest to see him leave is the capital's second team.

The Madeira native netted 22 times against the Wanda Metropolitano boys, including two hat-tricks at the former stadium Vincente Calderon in the 2016/2017 season, hence having felt enough of his wrath, you could forgive Atletico Madrid who were more than glad that their nemesis had finally departed.

With 12 La Liga goals scored in 16 matches against Atleti, they are his third most favourite opponents (after Sevilla and Getafe), and in his absence, Real Madrid haven't shown that they have the requisite defence to curtail any top attack, failing in all their tests against Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao and Atleti themselves back in August.

When it comes to defending, Atleti are high up there among the best at shutting out opponents, and when Ronaldo was present, there was always the threat of the 33-year-old making a decisive contribution. But with him gone, Atleti would very much fancy their chances at the Bernabeu.

#1 Managerial superiority

Diego Simeone is one of the most revered managers in the world

Real Madrid's most successful manager of the modern era in Zinedine Zidane left the club in ambiguous circumstances after guiding the club to an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League triumph last May.

For his replacement, Real went into secret talks with then Spain coach Julen Lopetegui and announced his appointment two days to the start of the World Cup, which led to the termination of his contract by the Spanish Football Federation.

Till date, Lopetegui has had an average managerial career, yet to win a major title as a coach, and his biggest club role coming when he led FC Porto for two trophyless seasons (despite being given the club's biggest transfer budget up until that point). He has not shown the tactical acumen required for a club the stature of Real Madrid.

His adversary this weekend, on the other hand, is one of the most tactically astute coaches on the planet. The transformation Atleti have undergone from being a fledgeling mid-table La Liga club to becoming one of the bonafide superpowers of European football in the seven years under Simeone has been truly exceptional.

The 48-year-old former Argentine international has guided the Rojiblancos to seven major title triumphs under his watch, including two Champions League runners-up medals, and has given the club an identity of being a hard nut to crack and the most defensively stable unit in Europe.

The difference in class between both managers is supremely evident and manifested itself in the UEFA Super Cup where Lopetegui was outwitted by Simeone's assistant German Burgos.

Epic clashes between two heavyweights such as this are sometimes too tight to be decided on the field, and it requires a stroke of genius from the bench to swing the game in a club's favour. And if it comes to that, Atleti undoubtedly have the upper hand.