The La Liga championship is far from settled. Though the Madrid derby leaves 15 rounds remaining to determine the Spanish championship title, both Real and Atletico have established strong positions. The highly anticipated match kicks off tonight at 21:00 at the “Santiago Bernabeu,” with the stakes being control of Madrid and the top spot heading into the final 15 rounds.

Real Madrid heads into the derby as the leader, holding just a one-point advantage over the “Colchoneros.” Meanwhile, Barcelona lurks behind, sitting four points away from their fiercest rival. But is Barcelona truly Real Madrid’s biggest threat?

Based on the build-up to the Madrid derby, it appears to be Atletico! Both teams are engaged in a multifaceted battle, utilizing media and social networks. Real Madrid initiated the offensive, using their television broadcast to exert pressure on referees while even the overpasses in the Spanish capital were not exempt.

A provocative banner reading “Eternos Segundones” (forever second-rate) was unfurled by “merengues” fans well before dawn yesterday.

Despite their dominance in both Spanish and global football, Real Madrid is not taking the upcoming match with Atletico lightly. Since the 2020/2021 season, Real TV has continuously aired controversial refereeing decisions that went against the club. Furthermore, Real Madrid faces potential fines…

– They are portraying themselves as victims, which is unfair and inaccurate. Real aims to undermine the competition; they’re losing grip! Carlo Angelotti, remain calm… The Spanish championship is not manipulated, and we all desire improved refereeing, a sentiment we’ve expressed for some time. Interestingly enough, Real, who are now anxious, were part of the board of directors of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) until November 2023 but remained silent—Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, pointed out his displeasure at the Real coach’s reactions.

Number 93 is the jersey number given to Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos at his new club, Monterrey in Mexico. This choice is not coincidental; it commemorates the goal Ramos scored against Atletico in the 2014 Champions League final during the 93rd minute, which equalized the score at 1-1. Real ultimately triumphed 4-1 in extra time, making it a notable prelude to tonight’s crucial Madrid derby.

On the other hand, Atletico’s coach Diego Simeone refused to engage with this narrative.

– My focus is solely on preparing the team for the match. You need answers to concerns, not irrelevant controversies that accompany significant games, but you’ve found no audience here. My concentration is on football. I am not preoccupied with the criteria; my only regard is how we should play. I anticipate a fantastic match against a team of immense quality – El Ćolo remarked.

Simeone recently became the first coach in La Liga history to reach 500 games with one club, commemorating the milestone with a victory against Mallorca and then triumphing over Getafe in the Copa del Rey. Real Madrid suffered a defeat in their last league match against Espanyol but bounced back with a win in Leganes during the Copa del Rey. The last three derbies culminated without a winner, although Atletico claimed victory in the Copa del Rey after extra time with a scoreline of 4-2.

Simeone declined to comment on the “provocations” from the opposing camp while Atletico displayed notable creativity on Real TV’s broadcasts with a two-part comic titled “Derby: Basic Instructions.”

The first comic strip listed a “Plan for the Week”: 1. Conduct effective physical training; 2. Get a pre-match massage; 3. Analyze the opponent in detail; 4. Apply pressure on the referees through your TV channel again.

The second page provided instructions: 1. Maintain the field in optimal condition; 2. Test the stadium lighting; 3. Prepare the locker room; 4. Mobilize media allies to propagate your nonsense.

The significance of the derby’s outcome seems secondary to both teams. A testament to this is the number chosen by legendary “merengues” captain Sergio Ramos, who was given the number 93 jersey in Monterrey as it symbolizes the late goal that denied Atletico victory in the Champions League final.

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