Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are two of the biggest and most successful clubs in Spanish football. The two clubs have a long-standing rivalry that has produced some of the most memorable moments in the history of the sport.
The rivalry between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid is often referred to as the “El Derbi Madrileno” or “Madrid Derby.” It is one of the most heated rivalries in all of sports, with both sets of fans passionate about their team and eager to see them come out on top.
The roots of the rivalry date back to the early 1900s when both clubs were founded. Atletico Madrid was founded in 1903 by three Basque students, while Real Madrid was founded in 1902 by a group of Spanish aristocrats.
The two clubs quickly became the dominant forces in Spanish football, winning a combined total of 22 league titles and 19 Copa del Rey trophies between them. The rivalry reached its peak in the 1980s when both clubs were regularly battling for domestic and European supremacy.
In recent years, the rivalry has cooled somewhat as Atletico Madrid have failed to keep pace with Real Madrid’s domination of Spanish football. However, the derby match is still one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures on the Spanish football calendar.
There have been some memorable moments in the history of the derby match, including Fernando Torres’ last-minute goal for Atletico Madrid that sealed a 1-0 win over Real Madrid in 2014.
The two clubs are set to face off again in the derby match on February 1, 2020. With both teams currently occupying the top two spots in the La Liga table, it promises to be another thrilling encounter between these two historic rivals.
Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid: Which Club Comes Out On Top?
Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are two of the biggest clubs in Spanish football. They have a long-standing rivalry that dates back to the early 1900s. Both clubs have won a number of trophies, but which one comes out on top when their records are compared?
Atletico Madrid has won the La Liga title ten times, most recently in 2014. They have also won the Copa del Rey six times and the European Cup Winners’ Cup once. Their total of seventeen major trophies puts them ahead of Real Madrid, who have won sixteen.
Real Madrid’s successes have come more recently, however. They have won La Liga eight times since Atletico’s last title victory in 2014. They have also been crowned Champions League winners on thirteen occasions, more than any other team in history. In terms of recent success, it is clear that Real Madrid comes out on top.
There is no doubt that Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are two of the biggest and most successful clubs in Spanish football. Their long-standing rivalry is one of the most intense in world football. Both clubs have a rich history of success, but in recent years Real Madrid has been the more successful of the two.
Why Atletico Madrid is the better team than Real Madrid
There are several reasons why Atletico Madrid is currently the better team than their city rivals Real Madrid.
Firstly, Atletico have a much better defensive record than Real this season. They have only conceded 18 goals in La Liga so far, compared to Real’s 26. This is partly down to Atletico’s excellent backline, which includes players like Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, but also because of their strong midfielders who help protect the defence.
Secondly, Atletico are much more disciplined and organised than Real Madrid. This was evident in their recent 0-0 draw at the Bernabeu, where they expertly nullified Real’s attacking threat. Another example of this was when Atletico beat Barcelona 1-0 at the Camp Nou earlier in the season.
Thirdly, Atletico Madrid have a world-class striker in Antoine Griezmann, who is currently the second top scorer in La Liga behind only Lionel Messi. Griezmann has scored 18 league goals so far this season, and he is also a very good creator of chances for his teammates.
In contrast, Real Madrid have struggled for goals this season and their leading scorer in La Liga is just Karim Benzema with 10 goals. This is one of the main reasons why Atletico are currently ahead of Real in the league table.
Fourthly, Atletico Madrid have a much better manager than Real Madrid at the moment in Diego Simeone. Simeone has been at Atletico since 2011 and he has transformed them into one of the best teams in Europe. He is a very good tactician and motivator, and he gets the best out of his players.
In contrast, Real Madrid’s manager Zinedine Zidane has only been in charge for a few months and he is still finding his feet. He has made some poor decisions, such as leaving Gareth Bale on the bench for important games, and it is clear that he is still learning.
Overall, there are many reasons why Atletico Madrid is currently the better team than Real Madrid. They have a strong defence, they are well organised, they have a world-class striker, and they have a great manager. Real Madrid are struggling for goals and they do not look like they will be able to catch Atletico in the league this season.
The top 7 moments from the Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid rivalry
1. The “Miracle of the Bernabeu” in 1999: In the Copa del Rey final that year, Atletico Madrid staged a remarkable comeback to win 3-0 against their city rivals, despite being 2-0 down at halftime. The victory was all the more sweeter given that it came at Real Madrid’s home ground, the Santiago Bernabeu.
2. Fernando Torres’ goal in the 2014 Champions League final: In what was arguably the most high-profile match between the two teams, Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres scored a late goal to give his side a 1-0 lead in the 2014 Champions League final. Real Madrid eventually equalised, but Atletico held on to win 4-1 in extra time, clinching their first ever European Cup/Champions League trophy.
3. The “Pichichi” battle in 1996: In the 1995/96 season, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone and Real Madrid’s Ivan Zamorano both finished as joint top scorers in the Spanish league, each with 20 goals. The award for the league’s top scorer is known as the “Pichichi”, and both players were presented with one that year. However, according to Atletico’s club website, they consider Simeone to be the rightful winner as he scored his 20th goal earlier in the season than Zamorano.
4. Sergio Ramos’ last-minute equaliser in the 2014 Champions League final: As mentioned before, Real Madrid eventually equalised in the 2014 Champions League final thanks to a header from Sergio Ramos in the 93rd minute. The goal meant that the match went to extra time, where Atletico ultimately won it. However, many Atletico fans feel that Ramos’ late equaliser stole their moment of glory.
5. Griezmann’s missed penalty in the 2016 Champions League final: In the 2016 Champions League final, Atletico Madrid were once again up against Real Madrid. This time, it was Antoine Griezmann who had the chance to score a decisive goal for his team, but his penalty was saved by Keylor Navas in the 85th minute. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, and Real Madrid went on to win the title in a shootout.
6. Ronaldo’s late winner in the 2017 Champions League semi-final: In the 2017 Champions League semi-final, Real Madrid came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 on aggregate. The decisive goal came from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 91st minute of the second leg, which ensured that Real Madrid progressed to the final at Atletico’s expense.
7. Diego Costa’s red card in the 2014 Champions League final: As if Atletico Madrid fans weren’t already bitter about Sergio Ramos’ late equaliser in the 2014 Champions League final, Diego Costa was then sent off in extra time for insulting the referee.
