Dog day derby for Atlético?

"We've got 14 years of motivation to win the derby," said Atlético Madrid captain Gabi ahead of Saturday's capital city showdown at the Calderón — a decade and a half is a long time in soccer, but that is how long it has been since the red-and-white half of Madrid got the better of the Blancos. In total, the rojiblancos have gone 24 derby matches in the league without victory, losing the last nine consecutive encounters.

On this occasion, the sides go into battle more or less evenly matched, even if this encounter has had some of the sting removed by the upcoming cup final between the teams. However, second place in La Liga is at stake and not since 1996 has Atlético finished a season above its cross-city rival.

Of course, when the teams met at the Bernabéu last December Atlético was also in the ascendancy, five points clear of Real in the league and unbeaten up to that point. But history weighs heavily on Atlético and a stuttering performance resulted in yet another defeat, by two goals to nil.

That loss was partly conditioned by the absence of attacking full back Filipe Luís, who was replaced by the barely mobile Cata Díaz. With Atletico's left side thus disabled and Arda Turan isolated, Radamel Falcao was left to prowl the center circle, feeding on occasional scraps offered by the hopeful lump of a long ball.

Arda is a doubt to start this contest but during his layoff with an ankle injury Atlético has exercised, through Óliver Torres, Adrián, Koke — who provided three assists against Granada — and Cristian "The Onion" Rodríguez, several other options to get the ball to the feet of the prolific Colombian.

Currently third, three points behind Madrid and with a considerable cross to bear after so much heartache over the years, Atlético will be raring to go on Saturday.

Cristiano Ronaldo will not play as he recovers from a muscle strain picked up in Dortmund

Whether or not Real will as keen to play ball remains to be seen. After having its backside handed to it on a plate by Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, and with the return leg to play next week, José Mourinho's team will have other things on its mind. That means a weakened team facing Diego Simeone's side on Saturday — although with a squad such as Real's the term is fairly redundant. However, Sergio Ramos, Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Ángel di María and Mesut Özil are all likely to be rested or benched, making way for the canteranos Nacho, Casemiro and Álvaro Morata. Real Madrid confirmed on Friday that Cristiano Ronaldo would not be included in the squad as he continues to recover from a muscle strain picked up in Germany.

Atlético has no injury concerns other than Arda's troublesome ankle and in Chelsea loanee Thibaut Courtois has the envy of many European clubs. Atlético has conceded fewer goals than any team in the division — 25 — and Courtois has been beaten just once in the home side's last five games.

"Tomorrow's game is extremely important," said Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka in Friday's press conference. "We are playing against our main rival for second place in the league, the city rival, and the team that we put out tomorrow, we will do so with the idea of winning the game. We are playing against a team that has not beaten us for many years. We have to play with the same intensity as them. They are strong at home, it's the derby, we have to be at our best."

"We are doing a good job this season," Atlético midfielder Koke said on the club website. "We have to carry on and not settle for what we have already achieved. We are very close to the objective of the Champions League and we're three points off Madrid so we have to keep going and hopefully we can finish second."

Real has only won once in 25 matches in Germany: a single victory in 25 attempts is the challenge Atlético faces on Saturday.