Real Madrid's away challenge to Atletico Madrid was defined as a "battle of revenge" by pro-Real Madrid media. They do have reason to call it that, because Real Madrid faced Atletico Madrid five times this season and did not win once.

Yes, this season is not over yet, and Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have encountered each other five times.

There were two Spanish Super Cups, two Copa del Rey in these five times, and one La Liga match.

Real Madrid's record against Atletico Madrid in five games was two draws and three losses, and one game was not won.

Especially the two away games that challenged Atletico Madrid, they all lost.

It is precisely because of this that many Real Madrid fans and pro-Real Madrid media have considered it a battle of revenge.

The pro-Atlético Madrid media think this statement is ridiculous. You won ours in the Champions League final and snatched our Champions League championship, but now you seem to have become victims, shouting revenge... Why is this world so distorted?

In the hearts of Atletico Madrid fans, perhaps it is difficult to offset the failure of the Champions League final after winning multiple times in the usual game.

This pain can last for a long time.

After all, it was the Champions League final. Atletico Madrid lost not three points, not just a victory in a game, but a Champions League champion that could have become the first Champions League championship trophy in club history.

So in the eyes of Atletico Madrid fans, Real Madrid's current revenge is both pretentious and ridiculous.

Don’t think that they have never lost to Real Madrid since the new season, and they feel that Atletico Madrid’s revenge is over.

How is that possible?

The hatred that concerns the ownership of the Champions League champions, how can it be offset by winning a few ordinary games?

At the pre-match press conference, Diego Simeone confirmed that Gao Zheng will be in this game, which is in line with everyone's expectations.

After all, Gao Zheng was asked to play as a substitute in the last game, and it was not until the last ten minutes of the game. It was to allow Gao Zheng to have a good rest and have enough energy to play this city derby. If Gao Zheng did not abide by the law in this game, why did Simeone do this?

The most eye-catching thing in this game is naturally the showdown between Gao Zheng and Cristiano Ronaldo.

If Gao Zheng had just joined Atletico Madrid, it would have caused controversy if the focus of the two teams was Gao Zheng and Ronaldo, before the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, everyone was concerned about whether Gao Zheng could adapt to La Liga and Atletico Madrid. He didn't care about the showdown between him and Ronaldo. At that time, no one thought that Gao Zheng could become a player who was evenly matched with Ronaldo.

But now everyone agrees that Gao Zheng is the one who can threaten Ronaldo.

This is because of Gao Zheng's outstanding performance over the past half season, especially his performance in three matches against Real Madrid.

In these three games, Gao Zheng became a key figure in Atletico Madrid. His outstanding performance directly helped Atletico Madrid win the Spanish Super Cup and defeat Real Madrid away.

Now everyone no longer discusses whether Gao Zheng can adapt to issues like La Liga and Atletico Madrid, because the facts are here, Gao Zheng has become the core of Atletico Madrid's offensive, and it is not that he is not adapting to that level.

In Real Madrid, their leading player Cristiano Ronaldo finally released the ban and returned after being suspended for two games due to a red card, and did not miss this critical battle.

This is the biggest good news for Real Madrid.

The Portuguese was sent off in the 20th round of the league, Real Madrid was sent off against Cordoba away.

At that time, Real Madrid played a new team, but it was very difficult to play until the 82nd minute. This may have caused the Portuguese to be a little impatient. He first knocked down Cordoba's player Edi Mar in the penalty area, and then pushed away Cordoba's player Jose Crespo who came forward to argue with him. And when he pushed Crespo away, he directly punched the opponent in the face, causing a riot.

Then he was sent off by the referee showing a red card.

At that time, Real Madrid fans were worried that Cristiano Ronaldo would miss the Madrid city derby because of this red card.

Because some media said that the La Liga referee committee may impose additional penalties, allowing him to miss more games.

The referee on duty described Ronaldo's foul in the post-match game report: "In the 83rd minute of the game, Real Madrid No. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo was expelled from the court for the following action: he kicked the opponent's player without getting the ball."

In this season's La Liga, any player who was described by the referee was sentenced to two games banned.

If only two bans were suspended, he could still catch up with the Madrid derby, because after the 21st round of the match against Real Sociedad, there was a 16th round of supplementary match before the 22nd round of the league against Atletico Madrid, because Real Madrid participated in the Club World Cup at that time.

Ronaldo's second red card ban will be used in this make-up game, so he can still catch up with the game against Atletico Madrid.

But if the referee committee thinks that Cristiano Ronaldo's boxing Jose Crespo is included, it may not be able to settle the two bans.

Fortunately, the referee committee did not impose additional penalties in the end, so they banned the Portuguese two games.

He was able to participate in this city derby.

This disappointed Atletico Madrid. Before the game, Atletico Madrid club chairman Serezo publicly announced that the Portuguese should be suspended for three games for his actions.

Why three games, not four games?

Because I just missed the game against Atletico Madrid after three games being suspended.

Real Madrid responded: "It's a pity that Cerezo is not the head of the La Liga referee committee. He is so afraid of Cristiano Ronaldo, which shows how huge a threat Ronaldo is to Atletico Madrid! So it is indeed good news for us to be able to lift the ban and return..."

Cristiano Ronaldo is indeed a big threat to Atletico Madrid, because Ronaldo has scored sixteen goals in the confrontation between the two teams.

He is the player who scored the most goals against the opponent among the two teams.

Therefore, Real Madrid thinks that Ronaldo's ability to lift the ban and return is a major benefit. Even if Marcelo and Ramos missed this game, as long as Cristiano Ronaldo is there, Real Madrid can still play against Atletico Madrid.

In response to Real Madrid's response, the pro-Atlético Madrid media said this: "We are not afraid of Cristiano Ronaldo, but Real Madrid may be afraid of Gao Zheng. In the game against Real Madrid, Gao scored goals in every game. Real Madrid should think about how to defend Gao!"

Before the game began, the battle between the two sides had become a bit intense.

This is the Madrid City Derby.
Chapter completed!