Three talking points ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League | OneFootball

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid lock horns tomorrow night in the fourth Madrid derby of the season and a game that is, quite simply, the most important one yet this campaign for both sides.

The first leg played at the Santiago Bernabeu saw Carlo Ancelotti’s side take home a one-goal lead. Tomorrow’s game, however, is at the Metropolitano and the atmosphere there will be anything but favourable for Los Blancos.

The last time Real Madrid played at the venue, objects were flung on the field and the game had to be suspended for a brief period to instill discipline in the fans.

With a place in the quarterfinal on the line and elimination guaranteed for the loser, the atmosphere at the Metropolitano may well be terrifying to play in front of. Real Madrid, thus, have a mountain to climb.

Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid.

An ever-so-slender lead

Real Madrid did indeed take home a slender one-goal lead from the first leg against Atletico Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu but it is clear that they would have liked a larger cushion.

In a competition like the Champions League, Los Blancos will take whatever comes their way and even a one-goal lead cannot be called insignificant. Yet, it is ironically also true that no lead is safe enough in the competition.

Los Rojiblancos have the home advantage tomorrow and turning over the one-goal deficit is well within their grasp if they can find their best version. Real Madrid’s mindset, thus, cannot be defensive.

Taking to the field at the Metrpolotano, the men in white must look to have an attacking mentality from the get-go and close the game with a few early punches.

After all, every passing minute without the one-goal lead extended only gives Atletico Madrid more reason to push in attack and deliver the inevitable equalizer. Sitting deep and defending is not an option.

Where should Valverde play?

Right-back or central midfield? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Federico Valverde has been one of Carlo Ancelotti’s most consistently used players this season and has proven to be reliable wherever deployed on the field.

While he is best placed as a midfielder, he has shone when deployed as a right-back and has thus been Ancelotti’s trusted option in the defensive position for big nights given Lucas Vazquez’s inconsistency.

The Uruguayan star played at right-back in the first leg against Atletico Madrid and completed a solid performance with even an assist to his name. Ahead of tomorrow’s clash, Ancelotti faces the same dilemma – where should Valverde feature?

Eduardo Camavinga came under fire for his performance in the first leg. Given that only Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham are fixed starters, the coach would ideally like Valverde to complete the midfield and help Real Madrid keep control of the middle of the park.

Will the manager prefer midfield dominance or defensive stability? In either case, who will cover the position Valverde does not feature in? The answers to these questions may well decide the result tomorrow night.

A different beast awaits

Atletico Madrid lost at the Bernabeu in the first leg last week and it was the first time in three meetings against Real Madrid this season that they did not share points.

Yet, it was surprising that the Colchoneros did not look, at any point, close to uncomfortable taking the defeat. It was as if they were happy to take home the result as they should be, for the second leg is at home.

The one-goal lead is slender and can easily be overturned. Who scores the first goal on the night will count for a lot of how the match shapes up.

What Real Madrid can be assured of, thus, is that they will see a completely different side of Atletico Madrid tomorrow night at the Metropolitano, one much more dangerous and attacking compared to the team that featured last week.

Diego Simeone’s side have shown great attacking flair this term. The last meeting was an off-night for the forwards and they will look to be more precise, attacking, and progressive with their play tomorrow night.

Real Madrid’s defence, thus, has a lot of responsibility to shoulder and Antonio Rudiger must step up immediately after returning from his illness.