Certainly, the rivalry between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Spanish and European football scene is rich with history and intrigue. The Madrid Derby is indeed a fixture steeped in tradition and emotion, and it continues to captivate football fans around the world. Both the teams are ready to put their best foot forward when they face each other in La Liga at the Metropolitano on Sunday.
Here are five lesser-known facts about this exciting fixture:
Atletico de Madrid were formed in reaction to Real Madrid
The origin story of Atletico de Madrid is indeed a fascinating one. A group of Basque students who were living in Madrid attended the first-ever Copa del Rey final in 1903 between Bilbao's Athletic Club and Madrid FC, which later became Real Madrid. Unimpressed by Madrid FC's style of play, they decided to create a Madrid-based subsidiary of Athletic Club just 18 days later. This subsidiary club would eventually evolve into Atletico de Madrid, becoming one of the most iconic football clubs in Spain and Europe. This historical link between Athletic Club and Atletico de Madrid is still acknowledged by fans of both clubs today.
Atletico de Madrid once went 14 years without a derby win, but it’s a very different story now
Between 1999 and 2013, Atletico de Madrid went through a challenging period in the Madrid Derby. They endured a remarkable 25-match winless streak against Real Madrid until the arrival of Diego Simeone as their manager eventually turned their fortunes around. Since that overdue victory, the balance in the Madrid Derby has shifted. Atletico has won 10 out of the 36 derbies played since then, while also managing 12 draws and experiencing 14 defeats across all competitions. In La Liga EA SPORTS, the record stands at five victories and six defeats in 20 derby matches, highlighting the competitive nature of these encounters. Simeone's tenure as manager has indeed brought about a significant transformation in Atletico de Madrid's performance in the Madrid Derby, making them a formidable rival to Real Madrid.
Atletico de Madrid fans began the tradition of celebrating at Cibeles fountain, not Real Madrid!
During the 1970s, the tradition of celebrating titles with fellow fans of your team at certain points in the city began to emerge in Spanish football. The Cibeles fountain, located in the very centre of Madrid, emerged as an ideal meeting point for such fans and, though today closely associated with Real Madrid, it was actually Atleti fans who first started to hold their celebrations there, after a LALIGA title win in 1977. Over time, other fans began to copy them and it became the fan meeting point in the city for title wins; throughout the 1980s, Real Madrid fans would celebrate the victories of the iconic Quinta del Buitre generation there. By the time Atletico won another title in 1991 – the Copa del Rey – Cibeles had become so closely associated with Real Madrid that their fans decided to move their celebrations 600 metres down the city’s Paseo de la Castellana avenue to Netptune’s fountain.
This used to be a bigger fixture than ElClasico
Indeed, the intensity and significance of the Madrid Derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have evolved over the years. In the first couple of decades following the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, the Madrid Derby held greater prominence and rivalry than the clashes between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Alfredo Di Stéfano, one of the all-time greats in football history and a legendary figure at Real Madrid, once captured the essence of the Madrid Derby by stating, "Forget FC Barcelona... the team that can frustrate us is Atletico." This sentiment reflects the fierce competitiveness and historical importance of the matches between the two Madrid clubs during that era. While the rivalry with FC Barcelona has gained international attention and is known as "El Clásico," the Madrid Derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid has remained a passionate and fiercely contested fixture, with its own unique history and significance in Spanish football.
Nine of Atletico de Madrid’s Copa del Rey wins have come at the Bernabéu
Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium holds a rather interesting and significant place in the hearts of Atletico de Madrid fans. Despite being the home ground of their arch-rivals, Atletico has a remarkable record of success at this stadium, particularly in the Copa del Rey. Los Colchoneros have won the Copa del Rey on ten occasions, and what makes this achievement even more impressive is that nine of those victories took place at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the fortress of Real Madrid. The only exception to this trend was their 1996 Copa del Rey triumph against FC Barcelona, which was held at a different venue, Real Zaragoza's La Romareda. This record underscores Atletico de Madrid's historical prowess in the Copa del Rey, and their ability to achieve success even on their rival's home turf, making it a memorable chapter in the rivalry's history.
