Real Madrid plays Atletico Madrid in the first semifinal of the Spanish Supercup on Wednesday night in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh in what promises to be the start of an intense week for both teams.
The draw for the fourth round of the Copa del Rey on Monday saw them pitted against each other again next week in Atletico’s Metropolitano Stadium.
The fact the two local rivals will meet twice in eight days has given extra interest to the semifinal and could mean that their intense rivalry has an extra bite to it.
Atletico is the only side to have beaten Real Madrid in La Liga this season, winning a feisty match 3-1 in the Metropolitano Stadium.
Real Madrid is without long-term injury victims, Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba, while Lucas Vazquez is also out with a muscle problem that will sideline him until the end of January.
The injuries have limited Carlo Ancelotti’s options to make rotations in defense, and he will presumably field Dani Carvajal, Nacho, Antonio Rudiger and Ferland Mendy across the back.
The doubt for Real Madrid will once again be in goal, with Andriy Lunin looking to have moved ahead of Kepa Arrizabalaga in the pecking order, although the former Chelsea keeper did play in Madrid’s 3-1 Copa del Rey win over fourth-tier Arandina on Saturday.
Atletico’s injury list has been reduced considerably, with young midfielder Pablo Barrios fit again, leaving just Thomas Lemar as a long-term absentee.
Thursday’s second semifinal sees La Liga champions FC Barcelona face Osasuna, who suffers the loss of striker Chimy Avila due to a muscle injury early in his side’s league win at home to Almeria last week.