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On Saturday, February 8, Real Madrid are set to take on Atletico Madrid in a highly anticipated derby at the Santiago Bernabeu, especially with just a points gap between them in top two spots on the La Liga standings. Ahead of the Madrid derby, Real manager Carlo Ancelotti stated that it’s a very important match between two even teams with Atletico under Diego Simeone flexing their muscles in the Spanish premier class this season.
Notably, Real Madrid have accumulated 49 points in 22 matches in La Liga, to find themselves a point clear of Atletico Madrid, who have 48 points to their name in the same number of matches. In the reverse fixture earlier in the ongoing 2024-25 season, Atletico Madrid stole a late 1-1 draw during the second half added time in the 95th minute with a goal from Angel Correa after Eder Militao had put Real Madrid in the lead in the 64th minute at the Metropolitano Stadium.
It's a very important match for two teams fighting to win the league: Carlo Ancelotti
In the pre-match press conference, Carlo Ancelotti spoke about the significance of the Madrid derby, especially in the context of the ongoing 2024-25 season. He was quoted as saying, as per Latestly, “It's a very important match for two teams fighting to win the league. The (Madrid) derby is a special match, as always. Atlético are strong and it'll be an even match. There is nothing new in the run-up to the game. The opposition have all the quality they need to fight for this competition, just like us.”
During their previous matches in the quarter-final stage of the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid needed a late winner to get the better of Leganes 3-2, while Atletico Madrid smashed Getafe 5-0. Kylian Mbappe, who has been in scintillating form for Real Madrid this season, said about the upcoming derby, “It's going to be a great match and it's very important. This is the first time I'm going to play in this match. I'm looking forward to playing and helping the team, and I hope we can win.”
“I always aim to play to win. I'm sure it's going to be a very important match for us and for all Madridistas. The objective is always the same, to win. Even more so when we're playing against Atletico with the situation we are in in the league, they're close to us. We have to win and we'll do everything to do so,” he added.
