THE first-ever Madrid derby at the Wanda Metropolitano will take place tomorrow.
And, in terms of La Liga history, this is the biggest for some time.
Not just for the two sides, with the loser almost certainly out of the title race — but for the club icons who are enduring inexplicably poor starts to the campaign.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann are two of the biggest names in football,
Yet, combined, they have scored fewer league goals than Brighton striker Glenn Murray with three.
Assuming Barcelona beat Leganes in the afternoon, defeat for either side would leave them 11 points behind.
La Liga and Champions League holders Real Madrid were expected to dominate for years due to having such a young squad — but have dropped a whopping seven points from six home games this season.
While there was huge optimism at Atletico Madrid following their move to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
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Yet, despite remaining unbeaten so far in La Liga, they have only won twice at home — and look certain to face elimination from the Champions League group stages.
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The Spanish capital duo can pinpoint to their misfiring “matchwinners” for their difficult starts to the campaign.
However, the respective world-renowned superstars will be hoping their good recent individual records in this fixture could prove a catalyst in turning their seasons around.
Ronaldo, it must be pointed out, missed the first five games of the season — but it was on the back of a suspension for pushing the referee, so he expect too much sympathy.
Astonishingly, he has scored just ONE La Liga goal so far, despite taking 48 shots.
His frustration is clear for everyone to see.
Winning La Liga, the Champions League and scoring hat-tricks in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final double meant only an incredible end to 2017 would deny him a fifth Ballon d’Or.
But he will surely be feeling a little anxious because, while main rival, Lionel Messi, has carried Barcelona, Real Madrid have carried Ronaldo.
Marco Asensio, Isco and Dani Ceballos have popped with important goals as their superstar No 7 struggles.
Though, it’s worth pointing out Ronaldo’s only goal was a late winner at Getafe.
He has cut a frustrated figure and reports emanating out of the Bernabeu suggest all is not well.
However, Ronaldo will point to his big game pedigree and recent record in the “Derby Madrileno” as examples this is an opportunity to kick-start his campaign.
Last season, he scores two hat-tricks against the Rojiblancos — and left his best performances for the crunch period of the campaign.
Griezmann, meanwhile, may have notched one more goal than his rival, but his influence of the team is far less.
He has hit the back of the net on two occasions in La Liga, with another in the Champions League.
Amazingly, Diego Simeone has now taken to substituting the French attacker when his side go in search of a later winner.
Antoine Griezmann slots home one of his two La Liga goals of campaign
Like Ronaldo, Griezmann suffered from a sending off early in the season — but he has notched as many for his country this as for his club, so it’s difficult to explain why his Atletico form is so bad.
And the decision was vindicated as Atletico hit a stoppage time winner.
But he has scored the winner in Zinedine Zidane‘s first home defeat as Los Blancos boss as well as goals in the 1-1 La Liga draw and Champions League semi-final meeting last season.
Griezmann is expected to leave in the summer — with Barcelona and Manchester United both interested.
While “angry” Ronaldo is edging closer and closer to a sensational Bernabeu exit.
For both, it could be their first and last Madrid derby at the Wanda Metropolitano.
And, that means, they will be desperate to leave their mark.
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