Madrid Derby

A Madrid derby in 1919

The rivalry between the two clubs started at the very beginning of the twentieth century. Madrid Foot-Ball Club (founded 1902), the most powerful club in the Spanish capital, kept on making mergers and acquisitions of the best smaller clubs in the city, which subsequently disappeared. At the same time, Madrid FC also signed the best players from the clubs it did not absorb, which also made those clubs defunct when they were unable to compete against the Whites. The main exception to this pattern was Athletic Club Madrid (founded 1903), who were able to keep most of their best players thanks to the financial aid of their "parent", Athletic Club Bilbao, and so became the last stand against the Madrid FC supremacy in the capital. Many supporters of the clubs that had vanished due to The Real (a recognition given by the King of Spain to his favoured clubs, bestowed upon Madrid FC in 1920) therefore became supporters of the Red-and-whites, many harbouring dislike towards the meringue club and triggering the rivalry.[2] However, regarding competitive honours won, Real Madrid were far above Athletic Madrid (who remained so named even after their separation from the original Basque club) until after the Spanish Civil War.

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium during Real Madrid vs Atlético in September 2014

After the war, during the early Francoist period, Atlético became associated with the military air force, although the alleged preference of the regime for the club is subject to discussion (nonetheless, after winning their very first League title in 1939, Atlético coach Ricardo Zamora was put into jail accused of being communist). In any case, during this period Atlético became the most successful club in Spain, reducing the historical gap between the two clubs, until the regime preference shifted towards Real Madrid in the 1950s as Franco sought to make political capital out of Real Madrid's multiple European Cup titles at a time when Spain was internationally isolated; one minister said, "Real Madrid are the best ambassadors we've ever had." Thus, Atlético fans regularly chanted that Real were "El equipo del gobierno, la vergüenza del país" – "The team of the government, the shame of the country" – and allegedly adopted a more left-wing slant (tempered by the rise of ultras culture, and Rayo Vallecano's presence as the "true" leftist club in Madrid).

In the 1970s, Atlético took again the lead as the most successful Spanish club of the decade, which prompted the Real Madrid fanbase to look down on Atlético calling them and their supporters "Indios" (Indians, a reference to the Latin American players signed by the Red-and-whites).[3] It is worth noting that by then, Real Madrid was not very keen on signing non-Caucasian players (president Santiago Bernabéu even stated, when he decided not to sign Portuguese star Eusebio at the end of the 1960s, "Mientras yo viva, aquí no jugará ningún negro ni un blanco con bigote" ("As long as I live, no black or white with a mustache will play here").[4] Atlético's supporters accepted the new "Indian" nickname joyfully and have been using it until today.

Real Madrid against Atlético Madrid in September 2013

The Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid's stadium, is alongside banks and businesses on the upper class Paseo de la Castellana street, while the Vicente Calderón (the stadium that Atlético Madrid used until the 2016–17 season) could be found near a brewery, alongside the Manzanares River and a motorway. Real draw greater support all across the region because of their historically greater resources and success, while Atlético have a relatively working class fan base mainly from the south of the city, with some fans also scattered throughout the city.[5][6] In fact, the Atlético crest includes the Coat of arms of Madrid, whereas Real crest has no such a reference to the city (instead, it includes a reference to the broader Castile (historical region)).

In the modern era, the Madrid derby is the second biggest derby in Spanish football, behind El Clásico, and although Real Madrid have the larger worldwide fanbase, Atlético Madrid have also amassed a significant worldwide fanbase, due to their level of success in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League in the early 21st century. Real Madrid is the most successful club in the Champions League, having won it thirteen times. Atlético have never won the Champions League, though they have reached the final on three occasions (losing narrowly to Real Madrid in two of those), and they have also won the Europa League three times since 2010 (compared to two UEFA Cups for Real Madrid in the 1980s) and the UEFA Super Cup three times (one of them against Real Madrid).

On 27 July 2019, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid faced off in an off-season exhibition match at the 2019 International Champions Cup in the United States, marking the first time the two clubs faced off in a Madrid derby held outside their home country. It wound up setting a record for the highest-scoring Madrid derby, and a blowout win for Altetico Madrid, as they routed Real Madrid 7-3; Atletico Madrid lead 5-0 at half-time, and Real Madrid only began to rally from behind in the second half of the match.[7].

As of 1 February 2020[8]

In domestic cups, the two have been finalists on five occasions in the Copa del Rey in 1960, 1961, 1992, 2013 (all Atlético wins) and 1975 (Real Madrid win). In 1985, they met in the two-legged final of the Copa de la Liga with each winning their home leg, although Real Madrid winning on aggregate. In 2014, they met in the two-legged final of the Supercopa de España: the first leg, at the Santiago Bernabéu, finished in a 1–1 draw, while the second leg, at the Vicente Calderón, ended in a 1–0 Atlético victory. With a 2–1 aggregate score, the rojiblancos won the title. They would once again meet in the one-legged final of the Spanish Super Cup in the 2019–20 season, with Real Madrid prevailing 4–1 on penalties following a 0–0 draw after extra time at the King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

As of 12 January 2020[9]

The two clubs met in the semi-finals of the 1958–59 European Cup. Atlético had qualified as La Liga runners-up; as Spanish Champions, Madrid, had already qualified as European Cup holders. The tie finished 2–2 on aggregate, and Real Madrid winning the play off game held in Zaragoza. Real then went on to win the trophy outright.

During the 2014 Champions League Final between Atlético and Real, the City Council of Madrid building was decorated in banners of both clubs.

The two clubs met in Lisbon for the 2014 Champions League Final, making it the first time two clubs from the same city played in the final. Real Madrid won 4–1 after extra time, earning their tenth European Cup after having last won in 2002. They met again in the quarter-finals of the 2014–15 Champions League. The score was 0–0 at the Vicente Calderón and 1–0 in favour of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The two rivals met again in Milan for the 2016 Champions League Final. After a 1–1 draw, Real Madrid won 5–3 on penalties. They met each other again in the semi-finals of the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League. Atlético were beaten 3–0 in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu with all three goals scored by Cristiano Ronaldo. The second leg took place at the Vincente Calderon, which was the last European fixture at the iconic stadium. The home side was victorious, winning 2–1, however they were eliminated once again by their fierce rivals with the final aggregate score ending 4–2 to Real who went on to beat Juventus at the 2017 Champions League Final.[10][11][12]

The two clubs faced each other in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup, with Real having won the 2017–18 Champions League, and Atlético having won the 2017–18 Europa League. Atlético came from behind to win the match 4–2 after extra time for their third UEFA Super Cup title. This was the first ever meeting of two teams from the same city in the UEFA Super Cup.

As of 10 May 2017[13]

As of 15 August 2018

• 1928: Triana
• 1929: Cabo
• 1929: Luis Olaso
• 1929: Cosme Vázquez
• 1932: Eduardo Ordóñez
• 1935: Jaime Lazcano
• 1939: Luis Marín
• 1941: Pruden
• 1964: Luis Aragonés (via Real Oviedo, then Real Betis)
• 1977: Juanito (via Burgos)
• 1985: Hugo Sánchez
• 1987: Paco Llorente
• 1990: Bernd Schuster
• 1991: Sebastián Losada
• 1995: Miquel Soler (via Barcelona, then Sevilla)
• 1996: Juan Esnáider
• 1997: Pedro Jaro (via Real Betis)
• 2000: Santiago Solari
• 2001: José García Calvo (via Valladolid)
• 2003: Rodrigo Fabri
• 2006: José Manuel Jurado
• 2007: José Antonio Reyes
• 2010: Filipe Luis (via Deportivo)
• 2011: Juanfran (via Osasuna)
• 2017: Theo Hernandez
• 2018: Antonio Adán (via Cagliari, then Real Betis)
• 2018: Thibaut Courtois (via Chelsea)
• 2019: Álvaro Morata (via Chelsea)
• 2019: Marcos Llorente
• 2019: Mario Hermoso (via Espanyol)

Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in the Madrid Derby with 22 goals.

As of 29 September 2018, the top scorer of all time in the Madrid Derby is Cristiano Ronaldo with 22 goals scored. The top scorer for Atlético in the derby matches is Paco Campos, with 12 goals.[14][15] Players in bold are still active for either club.

Rank	Nat	Name	Goals
1		Cristiano Ronaldo	22
2		Alfredo Di Stéfano	17
3		Raúl	15
		Santillana
5		Ferenc Puskás	13
6		Santiago Bernabéu	12
		Emilio Butragueño
		Paco Campos

The players with the most appearances in the Madrid Derby are Francisco Gento, Manolo Sanchís and Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid, with 42 appearances each. The record of most appearances in the derby matches as an Atlético player is held by Adelardo with 35 matches in all competitions and eight goals scored.

Rank	Nat	Name	Appearances
1		Francisco Gento	42
		Sergio Ramos
		Manolo Sanchís
4		Santillana	36
		Míchel
6		Adelardo Rodríguez	35
		Chendo
8		Enrique Collar	34
		Pirri
		Iker Casillas

• List of association football rivalries
• Madrid basketball derby
• El Clásico
• Derbi barceloní
• Sports rivalry
• El Viejo Clásico

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Madrid Derby.

• Official La Liga Web Site (in Spanish)